Night was our friend
Sat, 25 Aug 2012, 11:37 amGordon the Optom3 posts in thread
Night was our friend
Sat, 25 Aug 2012, 11:37 am‘Night Was Our Friend’ (the name is a quote from Virgil) is a tense, psychological thriller written by British playwright and screenwriter, Michael Pertwee. Born into a theatrical family, with many relations actors or writers, Pertwee was also an actor in many films and TV series, from detectives to comedy. He died 21 years ago, but his writing is still fresh and in this case most threatening.
This first-rate, two and a half hour presentation is at the Garrick Theatre, 16 Meadow Street in Guildford. Playing at the end of the week, the evening shows start at 8.00 pm, running until Saturday 15th September, with matinees on Sundays at 2.00 pm.
Preamble: In 1945, the plane of Sally Raynor’s husband crashed into the dense South American jungle and his body was never found. Over the following two years, Sally (Joy Norton) reluctantly lost hope of ever seeing Martin (David Kerr) again and gradually fell in love with the village’s new, young doctor, John Harper (Vince Austin).
To the music of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Symphonie Pathetique’, the curtains open to show the Raynor’s comfortable country house in Coombe, Surrey. It is now 1949. From the wireless, the BBC radio newsreader announces that Sally, after a lengthy trial, has been cleared of the murder of her husband. However, Martin’s fussing and overbearing mother, Emily Raynor (Joan Scafe) is distraught and furious at the news.
When the old family friend, Dr Glanville (John Forde) brings Sally home from the court, her mother-in-law has no qualms about telling Sally that she knows the truth, and that despite the court’s decision, her son was murdered. When the maid, Kate (Elaine Carter) shows Sally’s new love, Dr Harper, into the sitting room then the tensions really become acute.
After the visitors have left, a persistent newspaper reporter, Cooper (Drew Dyer), talks his way into the house hoping to get the juicy facts behind Martin’s death.
The next scene takes us back two years to happier times, when Sally has just learned how Martin has in fact survived his two horrendous years in the jungle and is due home any minute. However, not surprisingly, he is a changed man mentally struggling with his past.
Which love will Sally chose? How did Martin die?
This is a good adult thriller. ‘Adult’ because it is not a ‘Miss Marple’ but a psychological masterpiece with flashbacks that could be difficult for anyone under 14 yrs to follow. The actors are very well directed by award winning, theatre legend, Fred Petersen.
David Kerr, in only his third play, gave a powerful performance of the mentally disturbed husband fighting to deal with his anguish and irrational behaviour. Joy Norton gave an impeccable performance as his heartbroken wife, desperately trying to cope with her husband and his domineering mother – another excellent performance from Joan Scafe.
The tension was real, as the whole cast worked superbly together to convincingly build up the pressure.
A suggestion, if it is not important for a character to have an accent, and they cannot do it very well, just forget it, as it can detract from their otherwise quality acting.
Don Allen’s lighting design was superb; however, sadly the operation was terrible. The operator missed the cue, but was given another chance a few seconds later when the actor went to the light switch a second time; but the techie missed the cue again, only for the lights to come on magically when everyone was seated.
The sound effects were poor and clipped at the end. The preshow announcement was beautifully spoken, but was of such a low volume that it could not be heard past the front row.
The admirable set (Fred Petersen and Ray Egan) was interesting and solid. Beautifully fitted out in the post-war style, with good props (Wendy Goodwin, Marion West and Chelsea Knight) and fine additional touches such as the Bakelite switches. The costumes (John Lobb) of sports coats, corduroy trousers and stockings with seams, combined with bobbed, or Brylcreamed, hair (Lynda Stubbs) all added to the authenticity.
A most enjoyable thriller, in a genre of its own. Well acted and presented, and thoroughly enjoyed by the almost full house.
‘Night Was Our Friend’ (the name is a quote from Virgil) is a tense, psychological thriller written by British playwright and screenwriter, Michael Pertwee. Born into a theatrical family, with many relations actors or writers, Pertwee was also an actor in many films and TV series, from detectives to comedy. He died 21 years ago, but his writing is still fresh and in this case most threatening.
This first-rate, two and a half hour presentation is at the Garrick Theatre, 16 Meadow Street in Guildford. Playing at the end of the week, the evening shows start at 8.00 pm, running until Saturday 15th September, with matinees on Sundays at 2.00 pm.
Preamble: In 1945, the plane of Sally Raynor’s husband crashed into the dense South American jungle and his body was never found. Over the following two years, Sally (Joy Norton) reluctantly lost hope of ever seeing Martin (David Kerr) again and gradually fell in love with the village’s new, young doctor, John Harper (Vince Austin).
To the music of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Symphonie Pathetique’, the curtains open to show the Raynor’s comfortable country house in Coombe, Surrey. It is now 1949. From the wireless, the BBC radio newsreader announces that Sally, after a lengthy trial, has been cleared of the murder of her husband. However, Martin’s fussing and overbearing mother, Emily Raynor (Joan Scafe) is distraught and furious at the news.
When the old family friend, Dr Glanville (John Forde) brings Sally home from the court, her mother-in-law has no qualms about telling Sally that she knows the truth, and that despite the court’s decision, her son was murdered. When the maid, Kate (Elaine Carter) shows Sally’s new love, Dr Harper, into the sitting room then the tensions really become acute.
After the visitors have left, a persistent newspaper reporter, Cooper (Drew Dyer), talks his way into the house hoping to get the juicy facts behind Martin’s death.
The next scene takes us back two years to happier times, when Sally has just learned how Martin has in fact survived his two horrendous years in the jungle and is due home any minute. However, not surprisingly, he is a changed man mentally struggling with his past.
Which love will Sally chose? How did Martin die?
This is a good adult thriller. ‘Adult’ because it is not a ‘Miss Marple’ but a psychological masterpiece with flashbacks that could be difficult for anyone under 14 yrs to follow. The actors are very well directed by award winning, theatre legend, Fred Petersen.
David Kerr, in only his third play, gave a powerful performance of the mentally disturbed husband fighting to deal with his anguish and irrational behaviour. Joy Norton gave an impeccable performance as his heartbroken wife, desperately trying to cope with her husband and his domineering mother – another excellent performance from Joan Scafe.
The tension was real, as the whole cast worked superbly together to convincingly build up the pressure.
A suggestion, if it is not important for a character to have an accent, and they cannot do it very well, just forget it, as it can detract from their otherwise quality acting.
Don Allen’s lighting design was superb; however, sadly the operation was terrible. The operator missed the cue, but was given another chance a few seconds later when the actor went to the light switch a second time; but the techie missed the cue again, only for the lights to come on magically when everyone was seated.
The sound effects were poor and clipped at the end. The preshow announcement was beautifully spoken, but was of such a low volume that it could not be heard past the front row.
The admirable set (Fred Petersen and Ray Egan) was interesting and solid. Beautifully fitted out in the post-war style, with good props (Wendy Goodwin, Marion West and Chelsea Knight) and fine additional touches such as the Bakelite switches. The costumes (John Lobb) of sports coats, corduroy trousers and stockings with seams, combined with bobbed, or Brylcreamed, hair (Lynda Stubbs) all added to the authenticity.
A most enjoyable thriller, in a genre of its own. Well acted and presented, and thoroughly enjoyed by the almost full house.
Extra Stack Cue
lighting cues
Sorry to tell you but I was there on Friday night. Good design, the fading light outside etc. excellent. It was the simple on / off that was the problem.