Author: Ann Platten

It is always a pleasure to attend a new society and their first production and to welcome the group to NODA.   Not not only was this a first production but also a brand new play written by a local author Jeff Bray and performed for the first time by H.O.S.T.S.

An extremely thought provoking and pertinent topic which was set in a retirement home and was well attended by an audience who really enjoyed the performance.

The subject is one which we all recognise with perhaps friends or relations who we might visit and hear all about their companions and life in the home.

The set appeared very plain and quite drab when the curtain went up, this was because the Sunny Vista Retirement  Home (where all the action took place) was shrouded in dust sheets awaiting redecoration just three weeks before Christmas,  hence the plainess of the set.

Otherwise it was a typical lounge set up with comfortable chairs a TV and small tables just what you would expect.

Reg Sharpe played by Fred Gregory was the leader of the small group of residents and spent a great deal of time complaining about everyone and everything.

Fred got right into this character and used some very funny lines in a clever understated manner which added to the fun of the production .

Mrs Prentice played by Bridget Gregory was the Matron/Manager and also had a great feel for her part trying to please all the residents and keeping the peace.

Other vital parts were mostly residents.  Mr Grayson a rather frisky gentleman played by Cliff Edwards and Anne a rather quiet lady played by Ann Mortimer added to the fun of the story and gelled well with the other residents.

There was much excitement, in Sunny Vista, when a visitor had to be taken in due to problems with her retirement home.  The visitor Diane played by Barbara Tyrrel turned out to be a former girl friend of Reg who had not seen her for many years and this turned the tables on both of them in a delightful way.

Francis, the “man about the house” was played by Barry Carder and together with Gilly, the maid of all work, played by Justine Smith were very convincing and both had good strong delivery of their lines.

I did feel that Act 1 went along really well but in Act 11 the pace did drop a little and there were a few lapses in dialogue here and there.

However we really enjoyed the production and I feel that there is great promise for the group in the future.

Thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality which was appreciated. It was good to meet you, and also the author Jeff Bray who I feel did so well with the script and hopefully he might write more, maybe especially for this society?

My best wishes for your next production