A Chorus of Disapproval

HIS was the second production from the newly-formed New Penny Theatre Company which appears to have a great deal of talent.

The play, written by Alan Ayckbourn, is about a group of amateur actors who are endeavouring to stage a performance of The Beggar's Opera. Jeff Eales was extremely competent as Dafydd ap Llewellyn and sustained his strong Welsh accent throughout with apparent ease. Alison Newell played Hannah Llewellyn, his long suffering wife, with Jeremy Mill as Guy Jones. Jeremy has a strong singing voice and was a convincing player in this comedy leaving the audience to wonder whether he was easily seduced by the predatory women or whether he had a darker, more sinister agenda. There were some very strong female members and a superbly choreographed cat fight between the lively Bridget and Linda played by Nicky Short and Miriam Leary-Joyce respectively, caused by the laid back Matthew Fowler as Crispin, pitting the girls one against the other.

The singing was good, ably accompanied by Gill Barrett as Mrs Ames.

Jeff Eales directed this play as well as performing one of the major roles which is an extremely difficult thing to do to get the right balance and it may have accounted for the rather slow pace at times.

Although billed as a comedy, Ayckbourn has the gift of seeing below the surface of his characters and portraying the often unpleasant person underneath. This is a difficult play to stage but well worth doing when the cast are as strong and talented as the New Penny Theatre Company.

Rita Carpenter