Perfect Wedding

‘Perfect Wedding’ was written in 1994 by Robin Hawdon, a West End playwright and TV soap actor, who has written numerous farces. His biggest success was ‘The Mating game’ which, like ‘Perfect Wedding’, had a very long run in London before playing in over thirty other countries.

This comedy is being presented by The Harbour Theatre at the Port Cineaste Building, 70 Adelaide Street, Fremantle nightly until Saturday 28^th May. The evening shows start at 8.00 pm with a Sunday matinee on the 22^nd at 2.00 pm.

 

 

        To the Troggs’ tune ‘I feel it in my fingers’, the lights rise to show a very smart hotel suite, with tasteful soft furnishings (great set from Aileen Lewis, Nicola Bond and Kirstie Francis). It is the hotel’s Bridal Suite and Bill (Chris Lucani) awakes on his wedding morning to find a gorgeous naked girl in his bed – but it is not his fiancée! He desperately tries to recall his stag night, but due to his hangover, he can’t even remember meeting her.
       The strange girl goes into the bathroom to have a shower, just as the room maid (Joanna Zukowski) arrives to tidy up. The best man, Tom (Michael Dornan) helps Bill concoct a story, involving the poor chambermaid, in an attempt to cover the bridegroom's unfortunate misdemeanours from his fiancée. However, Tom is also worried; as he too is still under the weather from the previous night and is due to meet up with his new girlfriend, Judy (Melissa Klimisch).
        A ‘Hello’ comes from the sitting room area, it is Bill’s bride to be, Rachel (Ariel Simone). She has arrived for a final dress fitting before the wedding. She mustn’t under any circumstances find out about the strange woman having a shower.
        When Rachel’s mother (Grace Hitchin) arrives the pandemonium really starts.

 

Most of this cast have proved themselves in the past with serious and dramatic parts, such as those in ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Female Transport’, but they are generally new to comedy. Here they have all shown their strong ability to deliver very funny lines with total professionalism.

The co-directors, Kirstie Francis and Nicola Bond, have really got the cast working as one. The chemistry between all of the players was electric, as they staggered through the lies and confusions of their alibis. The script was tricky at times, with lots of tongue-twisters, and complex explanations rather than the usual multitude of doors opening and closing, but with this very well-rehearsed team, the pace bounded faultlessly along as the characters’ panic grew. Extremely enjoyable.