Review: The Anniversary @ Lichfield Garrick Studio

The cast of The Anniversary - Nigel Lowe, Gina Martin, Ian Davies, Amanda Dufaye and Rachel Duncan

The Lichfield Players have a habit of rediscovering classics and this time they deserve full marks for dusting off this little gem of a play which manages to infuse vigorous comedy with a considerable degree of pathos.

The plot revolves around Mum, a monstrous control freak who rules her three grown-up boys with a Freudian rod of emotional blackmail. An idiot could see this isn’t really healthy, but in the hands of Director Ian Parkes and his faultless cast it also results in subtle comedy mayhem.

The anniversary of the title’s a macabre one, being the date of their dead father’s demise. So the sons assemble, with their wives or otherwise. I spotted Dale Preece-Kelly in the Players’ recent Agatha Christie and thought he showed unusual promise. But here as Tom the rough-diamond son he reveals himself as a consummate actor in the Bob Hoskins mode who could easily translate to the big or small screen given his effortless way with dialogue and excellent comic timing. More please, more.

Amanda Dufaye similarly shows real development as an actress in her role as his sacrificial lamb girlfriend Shirley. The role of second son Henry also could have been written for actor Nigel Lowe whose casting shows the highly–skilled resources on which the Players can currently call. This is work of the highest calibre, unobtrusively perfect and disarmingly natural.

Ian Davies as the mother’s principal victim Terry has real vulnerability while Rachel Duncan as his outwardly confident wife Karen neatly reveals the hidden turmoil involved in coping with these recurrent family affairs. But of course the lion’s share of praise must go to Gina Martin as the nightmarish Mum whose idea of familial love is emotional torture. On the first night she was suffering from throat problems but didn’t once allow this to dim her performance.

A great night out, once again. I’m starting to wonder where the Players who should surely be the envy of many professional outfits can take us next – they seem to me to be entering on a golden era. Fabulous, absolutely.

Phil Preece The Lichfield Blog 26/11/09

REVIEW: THE ANNIVERSARY

Lichfield Players

Lichfield Garrick

DESPITE battling with a throat infection on opening night, Gina Martin still managed to give a remarkable performance as domineering widow Mrs Taggart in this gripping Bill MacIlwraith play.

She played the part for another company ten years ago and it’s a taxing role, but one she clearly enjoys. One minute the Garrick Studio audience are howling with laughter at her clever scheming, the next cringing at the cynical cruelty of the matriarch.

The action surrounds Mum's wedding anniversary, staged at her London home even though her husband has been dead for some years. Boss of a dodgy construction firm, she manages to manipulate her three grown up sons, much to the fury of one's wife and another's fiancee.

Terry (Ian Davies) wants to escape to Canada while Tom (Dale Preece-Kelly) is planning to marry his pregnant fiancee Shirley, but Mum has tricks up her sleeve to keep them under her control.

Amanda Dufaye sparkles as Shirley who suffers some particularly outrageous treatment from Mrs Taggart, and Rachel Duncan is a superb Karen, the brave wife of Terry, determined to get one over the meddling mother-in-law...."One whiff of perfume and she gets on her broomstick".

Nigel Lowe impresses, too, as Henry, the son with a fetish for women's clothing.

Directed by Ian Parkes, The Anniversary runs to Saturday night (Nov 28), then from December 2 - 5. Great entertainment.

VERDICT: * * * *

PAUL MARSTON

FOR THE BIRMINGHAM MAIL AND BLACK COUNTRY MAIL

REVIEW: ‘The Anniversary’ by Bill MacIlwraith

Lichfield Players

Lichfield Garrick.

Family bonds are strong especially in the South London family of the Lichfield Players latest production of ‘The Anniversary’ and Mum is magnum matriarchal. The Anniversary is Mum’s wedding anniversary kept with annual ritual although Dad has been dead some years.

Mum will do anything to keep her family together, as Shirley, Tom’s fiancée soon finds out. Gina Martin delivers another sunning performance as Mum, evil scheming, manipulative, vitriolic and selfish up to her eyeballs! (In fact we learn later she only has one eye – but goodness she makes good use of the one she has got). Gina kept the London feel in her delivery, her first outfit was so loud it would not have been out of place in the pub in Albert Square. Her comic timing was faultless and her expressions while not being part of the conversation were a joy to watch.

Terry wanted to stand up to his mother as did Tom and Henry his brothers, but they never stood a chance. Terry (Ian Davies) hadn’t the courage to tell his Mum he is planning to take his family to Canada, mainly to get away from her. Tom (Dale Preece-Kelly) had not told her he is bringing his pregnant fiancée to the celebration and well Henry (Nigel Lowe), the eldest just happens to be a transvestite!

Amanda Dufaye, Shirley, Tom’s girl did everything she could to face up to Mum as did Rachel Duncan – Karen, Terry’s wife – you felt for them struggling with this the archetypal mother in law from hell. The whole family did not stand a chance - they were ‘In the thick of it’

A great evening’s entertainment , played in the round of the Studio the audience clearly identified with the characters. I felt I wanted to get up and have a go at Mum myself!!! When one of the brothers did get the best of his Mum, there was applause for him – now that is the sign of an absorbing production. Ian Parkes has directed the play to bring out the best in everyone, it ran at a good pace and we wanted more at the final curtain.

TONY WOOD

FOR THE LICHFIELD MERCURY