A little help from my friends ****

Johnny’s company is ‘A lad in sane’, after the joy of watching ‘The Karaoke Twist’ and this latest show, perhaps it should be called the ‘Zany Lad’s’ company. Following the success of any play, whether drama or comedy, the audience always asks ‘will the next be as good as the last?’ In this case it was.

Nigel (Daniel Kershaw) has just received yet another rejection of his latest play. In an attempt to find out why these dismissals keep coming, on the suggestion of his best friend Warren (Josh Crane, last seen in Matt Penny’s very funny ‘Discharge’ – there must be a better way of phrasing that) he gets a few friends around for a drink to discuss changes that will turn his writings into a world famous epic.

Unfortunately the friends are Reece (Will Gawned), an avid Tarantino fan and his blonde bimbo girlfriend, Alison (Natalie Rees who was magnificent in ‘Karaoke Twist’) along with her stunning friend Beck (Samantha Rich). The two girls don’t have two brain cells to rub together. Warren’s girlfriend Tania (Tara Khin) is not impressed with the discussion on the play.

Will Nigel’s play become a masterpiece? Will he be seduced by the gorgeous Beck? Good punch line to the tale.

Johnny Grim’s scripts are wonderful. They have plenty of double-entendre lines, along the style of Luke Milton, so will appeal especially to the 20 – 60 age group. His dialogue is precisely as one would expect to hear from a young group. A wise move not to put it on at the blue-rinse Old Mill. That’s me banned again.

The lighting design was good, although poor operating. The actors were all magnificent and their very different characters added sparkle and variety to the play. Natalie and Samantha were particulary convincing as the scatty pair, with very accurate comic timing.

Very funny script, well worth the short trip out of town.