The Secret Tent
Thu, 1 Aug 2002, 12:25 amWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
The Secret Tent
Thu, 1 Aug 2002, 12:25 amWHAT: The Secret Tent
WHEN: Thursday, July 11
WHERE: Garrick Theatre, Guildford (WA)
The Secret Tent is an old-fashioned murder mystery, written by Elizabeth Addyman and directed by John Lobb. Not sure when it was written, but it is set in 1953 in a quiet English village. The title apparently refers to a line in Psalm 27 ("...on the day of trouble, he will conceal me in his secret tent.")
Christopher Martin (Keith Abbott) is happily married to his gorgeous (and very much younger) wife, Ruth (Franca Pellegrini). The play opens as Christopher is preparing for an Old Boys reunion dinner, whilst Ruth is off to the cinema with a girlfriend. Come the next morning, Ruth has not returned and the police are called. A body is found and Christopher identifies it as his wife. His life turned upside down, Christopher is visited again, both by the police and Ruth's former headmistress, discovering that his wife had an unrevealed and unsavory past....
Nicely written but VERY old-fashioned, the play nevertheless was interesting enough to keep our attention. We never got bored as Ruth's past unfolded, and there was a genuine shock twist at the end of Act 2 (it's a three-act play). It was also interesting to watch as an anachronistic piece: for instance, Christopher is more distraught about his reputation ("How could she do this to me?") when he discovers Ruth had a child when she was 15, rather than the fact that she's now on a slab in the morgue.
Regardless, the performances were good, with Keith Abbott's Christopher the picture of happiness at the start of the play (and why not, married to the stunning Franca Pellegrini), descending into a wreck of a man - physically and emotionally - as the past was revealed. Flawless Yorkshire accent, too. :-)
It's a pity Ruth was killed off so early in the play. Her enforced plummy accent held place for most of her time on stage, only slipping once or twice. The programme stated that this was Franca Pellegrini's first role, but let's hope it's not her last.
Heather Abbott (as Christopher's mother) again played an older and dowdier character, but unlike The Starting Stalls, at least she wasn't playing an ex-prostitute (that we know of). A very subdued and measured performance, effectively portraying the old, cranky mother-in-law, but projection was a bit soft in places - particularly when the rain came.
Never to be accused of insufficient projection, Fiona Forster was an audience delight as the busybody landlady. As was Peter Cross as the village simpleton.
All in all, a solid mystery to keep you interested and guessing. Not bad for a play I'd never heard of, knew nothing about, and had an ambiguous title. Thank you John Lobb (director) and Garrick Theatre.
JB
WHEN: Thursday, July 11
WHERE: Garrick Theatre, Guildford (WA)
The Secret Tent is an old-fashioned murder mystery, written by Elizabeth Addyman and directed by John Lobb. Not sure when it was written, but it is set in 1953 in a quiet English village. The title apparently refers to a line in Psalm 27 ("...on the day of trouble, he will conceal me in his secret tent.")
Christopher Martin (Keith Abbott) is happily married to his gorgeous (and very much younger) wife, Ruth (Franca Pellegrini). The play opens as Christopher is preparing for an Old Boys reunion dinner, whilst Ruth is off to the cinema with a girlfriend. Come the next morning, Ruth has not returned and the police are called. A body is found and Christopher identifies it as his wife. His life turned upside down, Christopher is visited again, both by the police and Ruth's former headmistress, discovering that his wife had an unrevealed and unsavory past....
Nicely written but VERY old-fashioned, the play nevertheless was interesting enough to keep our attention. We never got bored as Ruth's past unfolded, and there was a genuine shock twist at the end of Act 2 (it's a three-act play). It was also interesting to watch as an anachronistic piece: for instance, Christopher is more distraught about his reputation ("How could she do this to me?") when he discovers Ruth had a child when she was 15, rather than the fact that she's now on a slab in the morgue.
Regardless, the performances were good, with Keith Abbott's Christopher the picture of happiness at the start of the play (and why not, married to the stunning Franca Pellegrini), descending into a wreck of a man - physically and emotionally - as the past was revealed. Flawless Yorkshire accent, too. :-)
It's a pity Ruth was killed off so early in the play. Her enforced plummy accent held place for most of her time on stage, only slipping once or twice. The programme stated that this was Franca Pellegrini's first role, but let's hope it's not her last.
Heather Abbott (as Christopher's mother) again played an older and dowdier character, but unlike The Starting Stalls, at least she wasn't playing an ex-prostitute (that we know of). A very subdued and measured performance, effectively portraying the old, cranky mother-in-law, but projection was a bit soft in places - particularly when the rain came.
Never to be accused of insufficient projection, Fiona Forster was an audience delight as the busybody landlady. As was Peter Cross as the village simpleton.
All in all, a solid mystery to keep you interested and guessing. Not bad for a play I'd never heard of, knew nothing about, and had an ambiguous title. Thank you John Lobb (director) and Garrick Theatre.
JB
Walter PlingeThu, 1 Aug 2002, 12:25 am
WHAT: The Secret Tent
WHEN: Thursday, July 11
WHERE: Garrick Theatre, Guildford (WA)
The Secret Tent is an old-fashioned murder mystery, written by Elizabeth Addyman and directed by John Lobb. Not sure when it was written, but it is set in 1953 in a quiet English village. The title apparently refers to a line in Psalm 27 ("...on the day of trouble, he will conceal me in his secret tent.")
Christopher Martin (Keith Abbott) is happily married to his gorgeous (and very much younger) wife, Ruth (Franca Pellegrini). The play opens as Christopher is preparing for an Old Boys reunion dinner, whilst Ruth is off to the cinema with a girlfriend. Come the next morning, Ruth has not returned and the police are called. A body is found and Christopher identifies it as his wife. His life turned upside down, Christopher is visited again, both by the police and Ruth's former headmistress, discovering that his wife had an unrevealed and unsavory past....
Nicely written but VERY old-fashioned, the play nevertheless was interesting enough to keep our attention. We never got bored as Ruth's past unfolded, and there was a genuine shock twist at the end of Act 2 (it's a three-act play). It was also interesting to watch as an anachronistic piece: for instance, Christopher is more distraught about his reputation ("How could she do this to me?") when he discovers Ruth had a child when she was 15, rather than the fact that she's now on a slab in the morgue.
Regardless, the performances were good, with Keith Abbott's Christopher the picture of happiness at the start of the play (and why not, married to the stunning Franca Pellegrini), descending into a wreck of a man - physically and emotionally - as the past was revealed. Flawless Yorkshire accent, too. :-)
It's a pity Ruth was killed off so early in the play. Her enforced plummy accent held place for most of her time on stage, only slipping once or twice. The programme stated that this was Franca Pellegrini's first role, but let's hope it's not her last.
Heather Abbott (as Christopher's mother) again played an older and dowdier character, but unlike The Starting Stalls, at least she wasn't playing an ex-prostitute (that we know of). A very subdued and measured performance, effectively portraying the old, cranky mother-in-law, but projection was a bit soft in places - particularly when the rain came.
Never to be accused of insufficient projection, Fiona Forster was an audience delight as the busybody landlady. As was Peter Cross as the village simpleton.
All in all, a solid mystery to keep you interested and guessing. Not bad for a play I'd never heard of, knew nothing about, and had an ambiguous title. Thank you John Lobb (director) and Garrick Theatre.
JB
WHEN: Thursday, July 11
WHERE: Garrick Theatre, Guildford (WA)
The Secret Tent is an old-fashioned murder mystery, written by Elizabeth Addyman and directed by John Lobb. Not sure when it was written, but it is set in 1953 in a quiet English village. The title apparently refers to a line in Psalm 27 ("...on the day of trouble, he will conceal me in his secret tent.")
Christopher Martin (Keith Abbott) is happily married to his gorgeous (and very much younger) wife, Ruth (Franca Pellegrini). The play opens as Christopher is preparing for an Old Boys reunion dinner, whilst Ruth is off to the cinema with a girlfriend. Come the next morning, Ruth has not returned and the police are called. A body is found and Christopher identifies it as his wife. His life turned upside down, Christopher is visited again, both by the police and Ruth's former headmistress, discovering that his wife had an unrevealed and unsavory past....
Nicely written but VERY old-fashioned, the play nevertheless was interesting enough to keep our attention. We never got bored as Ruth's past unfolded, and there was a genuine shock twist at the end of Act 2 (it's a three-act play). It was also interesting to watch as an anachronistic piece: for instance, Christopher is more distraught about his reputation ("How could she do this to me?") when he discovers Ruth had a child when she was 15, rather than the fact that she's now on a slab in the morgue.
Regardless, the performances were good, with Keith Abbott's Christopher the picture of happiness at the start of the play (and why not, married to the stunning Franca Pellegrini), descending into a wreck of a man - physically and emotionally - as the past was revealed. Flawless Yorkshire accent, too. :-)
It's a pity Ruth was killed off so early in the play. Her enforced plummy accent held place for most of her time on stage, only slipping once or twice. The programme stated that this was Franca Pellegrini's first role, but let's hope it's not her last.
Heather Abbott (as Christopher's mother) again played an older and dowdier character, but unlike The Starting Stalls, at least she wasn't playing an ex-prostitute (that we know of). A very subdued and measured performance, effectively portraying the old, cranky mother-in-law, but projection was a bit soft in places - particularly when the rain came.
Never to be accused of insufficient projection, Fiona Forster was an audience delight as the busybody landlady. As was Peter Cross as the village simpleton.
All in all, a solid mystery to keep you interested and guessing. Not bad for a play I'd never heard of, knew nothing about, and had an ambiguous title. Thank you John Lobb (director) and Garrick Theatre.
JB
Walter PlingeMon, 19 Aug 2002, 03:41 pm
Re: The Secret Tent
Dear Jarrod,
I have just finished reading your review on the play "The Secret Tent".
I am very happy you enjoyed the play and a big thank you for your kind words.
Being my first play I was very nervous and unsure of my performance and it is encourgaing to hear your positive review. I am currently in reheresal for another play at Stirling Players "No Time On".
Thank you again.
Kind regards,
FRANCA PELLEGRINI
I have just finished reading your review on the play "The Secret Tent".
I am very happy you enjoyed the play and a big thank you for your kind words.
Being my first play I was very nervous and unsure of my performance and it is encourgaing to hear your positive review. I am currently in reheresal for another play at Stirling Players "No Time On".
Thank you again.
Kind regards,
FRANCA PELLEGRINI