Turning up rather weary and jaded on the opening night of a production, is not usually a winning formula.. However, the Nomad’s production of “Arsenic….” had me giggling from the opening moments.

 

Being an opening night, some things were not as smooth as they will be by the closing performance. The pace was a little shaky as were some of the early cues. There was also the occasional ‘dry’. However, the humour of the piece shone through throughout and by the time we got to the second and third acts, confidence was rising and the pace improving no end.

 

The curtain went up to reveal a delightfully detailed, well dressed set . Doors didn’t fall off, the window was robust enough to withstand opening several times and the creaking window seat was wonderful, adding to the humour each time it was opened. The furnishings, all beautifully in period set the atmosphere for what must be one of the most famous plays of this genre.

 

The opening scene introduced us to the two genteel sisters entertaining the vicar from next-door. Dr Harper (Brian Inns) created a beautifully convincing and well conceived “cameo”. Aunt Abbey (Philippa Galloway) played the gentle, genteel American lady with such conviction that I felt I had met her when visiting America. Her performance was equally well supported by Aunt Martha (Elaine Burns.) Indeed the two sister gave consistently fine performances throughout. Their focus and commitment maintained audience interest throughout.

 

Mortimer Brewer’s first entrance was eagerly awaited as Stephen Rowland is a familiar and very successful member of the company. I remember several of his performances with pleasure and much admiration. Although giving a pretty fluent performance, this was not a role best fitted to his abilities. Perhaps it was just first night nerves or simple tiredness, but the performance was patchy. There were moments where some of his usual high standard showed through, but at other times, he lacked conviction. I was not at all convinced by his love for the young and lovely Elaine Harper (Ann Price).

 

Elaine (Ann Price) played a soft, flirtatious Monroe type of girl. She expressed her love and lust for Mortimer in soft, coiling moves around the stage. Whilst she battled with the inconsistencies of Mortimer’s affection, we laughed at and also wept with her. She gave a very convincing scream when being attacked by Jonathan (Graham Botteril). She continued to quiver convincingly long after she was rescued.

 

Jonathan (Graham Botteril) was not as gross as I was expecting. The original performance of this role was, I believe, played by Boris Karloff and so the references in the text to “looking like Boris Karloff, added another layer to the comedy. This performance, though confident, lacked any real sense of menace. The accent too was oddly Surrey and seemed a little alien in the context of the play. I’m sure that having lived in S Africa etc. he could argue that he had “lost” his accent. Not, in my experience, a characteristic of many Americans!

 

Dr Einsein however, was a very well drawn and considered character. Much of the menace created by Jonathan was in the reflection of it in Einstein’s obsequious and worried character. He must have been a genius of a doctor to have re-costructed faces so successfully while totally doused in alcohol! The physicalisation of the character was also impressive, slightly stooped, worried and with restless hands.

 

Mr Gibbs (Phil Wilcox) made but a very short appearance, but not as short as the two sisters might have liked! He lived to tell the tale and for a moment there he had our sympathy as we feared for his safety. Similarly, we worried for Mr Witherspoon, but he was less fortunate. His “last time” glass of Elderberry wine brought the sisters’ score of killings to 13, beating Jonathan, the gangster by one and his demise brought down the curtain!!!

 

Despite a flurry of police activity, excellently handled by Officer Brophy (Phil Wilcox……multi-roling!) and Officer Klein (Lisa Arnold) who incidentally had a good crack at a Bronx accent. But they were outranked by the lovely performance by Lieutenant Rooney (Jeff Wightwick.) He was a gangster style policeman of Chicago lineage, I’m sure. He was so clever, he missed every clue going but did it with panache and swagger.

 

The police officer who caused most problems and who did much to enhance the comedy of the latter part of the last scene, was Officer O’Hara (Gopal Handa). His nickname of Shakespeare said it all. His character was well developed, had good articulation and used his space with ease and confidence.

 

Quite apart from the juxtaposition of the gentleness of the old ladies and the awfulness if their crimes which created a truly dark sense of comedy, the lunatic characterisation of Teddy Brewster (Paul Bungard) offset it all beautifully. He was a large character, consistently bizarre, but oddly matter of fact when it came to burying yet another “yellow fever” victim. His consistent performance kept us buoyant and amused throughout.

 

Last. but not least, my comments on the actors would not be compete without mention of Mr Hoskins and Mr Spenalzo (Albert). The best I can say is that in both roles, there was a certain lack of life and lustre. Indeed, not to be unkind, they did not “leave the page” . The performances were entirely lifeless!!

 

Altogether another enjoyable evening at the Nomads presented with their usual polish.

Polly

 

 

And - a second review

Well once again it’s hard to review this latest Nomads comedy drama without saying too much about the plot. But let’s try…

 

You know how it is when you open a box of chocolates and you like ALL the flavours ? this play - benefiting from not a box but a typically splendid period set by the Tuesday Crew - is packed with delicious characters and the key word the playgoer leaves with is ‘relish’. Because director Alan Wiseman relishes the chance to motivate this weird and wonderful bunch of players through the ins and outs of the story (staged artfully …props galore and windows ? they must be mad ! ) like a white water rafter, bringing out the extremities of the writing time and time again.

 

Set in Forties USA metroplolis, we meet two sweet old dears ( or are they ?) gracefully delivered by Elaine Burns and Philippa Galloway in perfect costume and their out-there brother Teddy Brewster, equally amusing and disturbing as the plot demands. Other initial personnel include eccentric rozzers Phil Wilcox ( adding a touch of the police chief in The Simpsons !) and the ever-emphatic and lively Lisa Arnold. Her recent versatility seems to know no bounds, as does the stalwart Steve Rowland ( Mortimer) , an actor who rivals Martin Freeman’s skills in portrayal of bewilderment and Fred McMurray ( My Three Sons ) for persistence. His sinister brother had a Christopher Lee touch as presented by Graham Brewster. The brothers’ snarl-offs were a highlight of the action. Confused girfriend Elaine Harper played by Anna Price lit up her part with charm and the right amount of reaction and indignation to the ever-evolving situations

 

Richard Peachey is such a good foil he should come wrapped in silver, always playing his characters with clarity and yes, relish. The dodgy medic role suits him very well ; Brian Inns’ Rev Dr Harper had the perfect presence of dignity and veracity whilst Jeff Wightwick as Lt Rooney is of course a natural and - pardon the pun - scored well here.

 

Mr Witherspoon was another ace inclusion in the story, Mike Roberts bringing the part to spirited life. Gopal Handa almost stole the show as a young police officer and would-be Arthur Miller, landing every laugh and playing well off Mortimer, as Officer O’Hara

 

Once again, I would suggest you make time to catch this one - it’s funny and pacey - characters may disappear but the rush of the story is frantically sustained

 

Victor

 

 

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