La Musica & Perfect Partners
by Marguerite Duras and Alan Richardson, directed by Madeline McCubbin
|
28-31 July 2010
This was an evening of two one-act plays about human relationships. La Musica is a French play concerning an old, possibly dying relationship, while Perfect Partners is a more modern comedy set in a dating agency. 
|
Review in Chelsfield Village Voice
This time we were treated to two single act productions, thus getting two plays for the price of one. Madeline McCubbin, who played one of the leading roles in the last production A Wedding Story, showed her versatility directing these contrasting plays with a shared theme. In her words, La Musica is poignant and thought provoking; Perfect Partners is cynical and amusing.
Michael Wortley, who only joined the Players last year, is proving to be a valuable addition to the group. He took on two contrasting major roles as a newly divorced man who still showed strong feelings for his ex wife and a hack journalist trying to expose the dodgy practices of an introduction agency. Emily Edmunds played his ex wife in the first play with just the right degree of detachment. They both showed clearly how situations can deteriorate when couples do not communicate. The innocent fiancée, played by Jo Clent was, I fear heading for a similar fate. The receptionist, played by Judy Ives was heard but not seen. I feel that, although off stage at all times, she could have been a little louder and am not sure she would have been heard at the back of the hall.
Judy Ives and Jo Clent also took on roles in the second play. Judy Ives was well cast and costumed as Edwina, the proprietor of an introduction agency, switching her style of delivery depending on whether she was dealing with customers or her erring husband, convincingly played by Andrew Haggerty, another invaluable recent recruit to the group. This about to be divorced couple certainly had no trouble communicating. The bravado of Edwina was challenged by Dave the journalist who then proved to be less self assured than he would have us believe. The balance of power changed nicely between these two. Jo Clent’s Susan was looking for an introduction “for a friend” but changed her mind after seeing how the agency operated. The second play gave some welcome humour after the first and they offered a well balanced pair of plays. The backstage team was as slick as ever.
A view from the stalls
This time we were treated to two single act productions, thus getting two plays for the price of one. Madeline McCubbin, who played one of the leading roles in the last production A Wedding Story, showed her versatility directing these contrasting plays with a shared theme. In her words, La Musica is poignant and thought provoking; Perfect Partners is cynical and amusing.
Michael Wortley, who only joined the Players last year, is proving to be a valuable addition to the group. He took on two contrasting major roles as a newly divorced man who still showed strong feelings for his ex wife and a hack journalist trying to expose the dodgy practices of an introduction agency. Emily Edmunds played his ex wife in the first play with just the right degree of detachment. They both showed clearly how situations can deteriorate when couples do not communicate. The innocent fiancée, played by Jo Clent was, I fear heading for a similar fate. The receptionist, played by Judy Ives was heard but not seen. I feel that, although off stage at all times, she could have been a little louder and am not sure she would have been heard at the back of the hall.
Judy Ives and Jo Clent also took on roles in the second play. Judy Ives was well cast and costumed as Edwina, the proprietor of an introduction agency, switching her style of delivery depending on whether she was dealing with customers or her erring husband, convincingly played by Andrew Haggerty, another invaluable recent recruit to the group. This about to be divorced couple certainly had no trouble communicating. The bravado of Edwina was challenged by Dave the journalist who then proved to be less self assured than he would have us believe. The balance of power changed nicely between these two. Jo Clent’s Susan was looking for an introduction “for a friend” but changed her mind after seeing how the agency operated. The second play gave some welcome humour after the first and they offered a well balanced pair of plays. The backstage team was as slick as ever.
A view from the stalls