Review of Wedding Bash.
“Wedding Bash” was adapted and directed by Keith Burton from an American short play by Andrew Leeds and Lindsey Kraft. This had been a winning play in the 2016 Samuel French New York Drama Festival. The authors had kindly given Keith permission to make the necessary changes from an American setting to that of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. This was to be the Society’s entry for the Nidderdale and District Drama Festival 2022.
The action began on an open set in the home of the newlyweds, Lonny (played by Steve Rouse) and Dana (Jenny MacNair). Immediately, it was established that this couple were very “loved up”, in their matching aprons, Fair Isle sweaters and self-obsessed banter. They moved on and off stage separately to create the busyness of preparing for guests. However, their main concern was self-congratulations on their recent “perfect” wedding of a lifetime. The listing of the various wedding gifts they had received was accompanied with a comment on the monetary value which reinforced their basic superficiality. Dana’s sudden irascible responses to even the suggestion of a criticism were skilfully handled by Jenny MacNair and presaged the later meltdown. Steve Rouse’s nervy Lonny was a delight as he fussed to smooth over any hint of upset.
The first guest to arrive was the pregnant friend Edi, played by Heather Appleton with energy and total commitment. Her facial expressions, timing and physicality added to the comedy which was clearly appreciated by the audience judging by the laughter. Next came the second friend who had attended the wedding Alan, played by Cory Juras, another new face with the Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society. He had a commanding presence on the set, a wonderful delivery, especially the throw away lines and expressive gestures that were never over played.
After admiring the expensive coffee table, gushing over the wedding celebrations, the friends were left alone. They soon revealed to the audience and each other that they had both found the whole experience truly dreadful. The expensive travel to the Shetlands, hotel, food and drink had left them seriously out of pocket, not to mention their purchase of wedding gifts. They agreed that Dana and Lonny had been selfish in the extreme, using the guests to fund their dream wedding. Alan’s insistence that the newlyweds should be told the truth gave Cory and Heather a gem of a dilemma that they wrangled in half whispers, leaving the audience on tenterhooks as to how this would all play out over the dinner table.
Despite being kicked under the table, Alan told it like he saw it with all the expected uproar on stage and hilarity in the audience. Edi was caught out, mid mouthful to be dragged into supporting Alan. As Heather turned to face the audience with a strand of lettuce hanging from her mouth, the Memorial Hall erupted. Jenny spun Dana’s mood and shocking invective in an instant, striking the absolute right posture and tone. Steve, however, backed his character, Lonny upstage for a more introverted meltdown which gave an effective contrast.
Ordered to leave, Alan was adamant that he should be reimbursed for his expenses so he cleared the coffee table to raise it above his head and carry it out, albeit with pregnant Edi’s help in recompense. Cory and Heather gave a masterclass of physical comedy here with the audience positively weeping with laughter. All four actors were so present in that moment that whether as observers or participants, the piece was superb. The departure of Edi, reclaiming her gift, the ladle, topped it all off as she waddled out. The audience were just glad she had not gone into labour after all the furniture moving! Lonny and Dana were left to dismiss the whole criticism of their wedding and to resume their blissful self-satisfied life. But for how long one wonders?
The four actors used every part of the stage, which included the off-stage kitchen, most naturally. The stage and set building crew (Justin Enthoven, Steve Colbourne, Ruth Dodsworth, Steve Hunt, Tessa Lee, Kevin Murgatroyd, Alan Stewart and Jo Wright) had achieved wonders to create this believable living space that reflected the couple’s Shetland wedding with touches such as the paintings of a highland cow and the tartan cushions which incidentally matched the sofa perfectly and the sentimental wall hangings. The costumes by Ruth Dodsworth worked well: the Fair Isle sweaters of course, the matching aprons and the star of the show – the baby bump so carefully nurtured by Heather during the production. Steve Hunt created good lighting, not always straight forward out of the Playhouse, Tom Barber gave us fitting, tongue in cheek music (I’ve got you Babe) and props were efficiently managed by Tessa Lee. The safety net of a prompt (Debbie Forsyth) was not in fact required as the play ran with clockwork precision. Congratulations to Keith Burton the director, Debbie Forsyth his assistant and his marvellous team led by Justin Enthoven. Thank you for the laughter. It was a wonderful reminder of how therapeutic excellent drama can be.
We all had a splendid evening from the start to the finish.
Review by Linda Harvey
Photographs by Chris Iredale
Jenny, Steve, Heather and Cory