A Bunch of Amateurs – Rainhill Village Hall

When one of your favourite satirists meets one of your favourite theatre companies what could possibly go wrong? Well for all the right reasons, quite a lot in this ‘love letter to amateur dramatics’ penned by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman and directed by Lynn Aconley.

The question is what happens when spoilt, arrogant Hollywood star Jefferson Steel (Gerald Walker) washes up, pursued by journalists (George Lowe; Tom Nevitt), and meets a struggling group of actors including their premier star Nigel Dewbury (Rick Young), the local B&B owner Mary Plunkett (Rosetta Parker) and local handyman Denis Dobbins (Richard Parker), all of whom are capably coordinated by their director Dorothy Nettle (Jo Webster). This is a different kind of Stratford however and with the threat of the venue being sold off by the council for more executive homes (a strongly topical local reference), they’re going to need something stronger than the beer sponsorship from Lauren Bell’s (Linda Saavedra) husband when their staging of King Lear promises to mirror life as daughter Jessica Steel (Lucy Whitfield) blows in.

A play within a play can confound an audience but this is a well-written piece and more importantly a well=performed one proving that there is nothing amateur about Rainhill Garrick Society who deliver strong character performances on both levels. If I have one criticism it is aimed at the writers who have inserted at least one too many short scenes which can become a disruptive challenge but were managed as best as possible and an opening night full house revelled in an evening of great fun and hilarious entertainment.

Young is Nigel (I know he won’t mind me saying that) and delivers his performance with aplomb whilst Saavedra brought all the allure and more. Rosetta Parker got to grips with her regional accent and served up an insightful comic performance, echoed further by son Richard’s comedic masterclass: the Earl of Gloucester will never look the same! Whitfield delivered a believable Jessica complete with a credible America accent. Webster deservedly has her hands on a major role and captured the many parts that make up director Dorothy superbly. Walker did what he always does with a strong all-round performance only matched by a great pair of socks. Lowe and Nevitt provide the perfect support whilst I must reserve a special mention for Alison Mawdsley’s Minstrel whose Fool’s Song, arranged and performed by Jane Thomason and Matilda Smith, provided the necessary distraction during scene changes with lyrics hinting at the unravelling events: I’m not sure some in the audience understood or appreciated the subtlety of her part but I enjoyed it.

Aconley is to be credited for adding up the many parts to make a meaningful whole with great support from Stage Manager Graham Swift and scene changes led by Tracey Duffy, in a piece that is immediately relatable on so many levels and is testament to the great work that companies like Ranhill Garrick serve up time and time again in the heart of their community. Their next production will be In Play by Simon Brett at Rainhill Village Hall 18th-20th May 2023.

A Bunch of Amateurs performs again on 17th and 18th February at 7.30pm at Rainhill Village Hall. Tickets are available via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rainhill-garrick-society for £8.00 plus a small booking fee or on the door.

Reviewer: Mark Davoren

Reviewed: 16th February 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★