Longueville Little Theatre Company

Variety Show Critique

This was LLTC’s first variety show in the Chrysalis theatre, and I did wonder whether it would lack in cosiness and conviviality compared to previous shows in smaller venues. However, the auditorium seats had been rolled back, and tables laid in the resulting space, and this worked well as a congenial area for the audience. We sat around the tables munching peanuts and crisps and enjoying our drinks, and soon Ian Rapstone had us donning our thinking caps to concentrate on the music quiz. This proved to be great fun, with some challenging and quirky questions, and music catering to a variety of tastes. The competition between tables lent an edge to the proceedings and created a lively atmosphere. We were then served a plateful of food in the most efficient manner; the food was plentiful and tasty, with vegetarian alternatives available. Many thanks are due to the hard workers who produced this whilst we were having fun with the quiz. The meal was enlivened by the raffle, for which there was a large variety of prizes – chances galore to win something.

We were all in a suitably cheerful and mellow mood when the variety show proper started. Director Sarah de Rousset-Hall used quite a neat framing device, starting the show with a short scene supposedly from a rehearsal of Shakespeare’s Richard III, where one of the actors constantly gets it wrong; further snippets from the same rehearsal cropped up at regular intervals during the show, culminating at the end with the inevitable scene where the actor finally gets it right, which totally throws the other actor off balance... Carl DeFriend, Sarah de Rousset-Hall and Simon Willis did very well in getting the show off in suitably thespian style. Richard Moyo, paired off with Liz Rhodes and then Jim Robinson, had us shuddering about the hazards of surgery. Mike Goodwin, Jim Robinson , John Drinkwater and Carl DeFriend had great fun hamming it up in the old classic of the four Yorkshiremen vying with each other for the most deprived childhood (rather apt, in this age of the ‘misery memoir’). Sam Cross did an excellent turn as a magician, carrying off his tricks with panache and involving the audience. He was also an effective comic mime whilst Liz gave us a lesson about the Do’s and Don’ts of dating. Paul Wheeler, John Drinkwater and Simon Willis gave us the wedding speeches from your nightmares. The cast entertained us in several other sketches, all well chosen and acted, which kept the show lively and fresh. Nor must we forget the musical interludes, all played or accompanied by the band (Martin Snowden, Sandy Reid-Millar and John Drinkwater). There were solo songs, ably performed by Anne Skelly, Sarah de Rousset-Hall and Liz Rhodes; a lively rendering of several songs including ‘Mustang Sally’ by Carl, backed by Anne, Sarah and Liz, and a rousing ensemble piece to round off the evening.

All in all, the show was well put together and balanced. The only technical quibble I had was with the sound system, which was uneven at times. The lighting worked well, and the actors and musicians used the stage effectively. The pace was excellent throughout, which is very important in this kind of show. Director and performers can be proud of their efforts, and they were ably supported by the behind-the-scenes and front-of-house staff.

Finally, the show was an opportunity, on the Saturday night, for all us LLTC regulars to celebrate the achievements of Beryl and Martin Snowden who have been such wonderful members of the group over the years, as set designers and builders, actor, musician, director, treasurer and active committee members. They are heading south towards sunny Spain, but we hope to see them again when they revisit these shores.