Shimmering performance from Blake Drama Club (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Shimmering performance from Blake Drama Club

9:41am Tuesday 3rd April 2007

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BLAKE Drama Club gave a shimmering performance of a Noel Coward play at the Bridgwater Arts Centre last week.

Star Quality, which ran from March 28 to 31, gave a fascinating insight into the politics and personalities behind the theatre curtain.

Set in 1951, the story revolved around a play and its leading actress, the egotistic and controlling Lorraine Barry.

Lorraine was depicted as a fading star but a brilliant actress who tried to manipulate everything to her own advantage.

This included insisting on a second-rate co-star, persuading the new playwright into changing her final scene and trying to dominate the play's director.

Kate Cross played manipulative leading lady Lorraine Barry. Striding confidently about the stage with blonde hair and bright red lipstick, Kate's well-directed movements portrayed the domineering persona of Lorraine skilfully. Sitting close to the playwright, leaning in and placing her hand behind him, she delivered "extravagant compliments" to seduce him, hinting at her dictatorial character when insisting he "eat every last crumb" of her homemade scones.

Martin Walsh confidence in playing director Ray Malcolm was radiant. His commanding vocal performance and animated face expressions were compelling to watch.

Placing Adrian Patten as the playwright Bryan Snow was inspired. His timid, understated character was perfected with mannerisms and personality traits that sealed his performance of the innocent man.

Actress Hilary Burland delightfully and comically presented the gurglings and cooings of co-star Marion Blake.

Peter Milton, as director assistant Tony Orford, was also very amusing, using movements and gestures to complete his act.

Sheila Street, John Taylor and Carol Taylor played Nora Mitchell, Gerald Wentworth and Mavis Sinclair respectively. Each actor clearly put a lot off attention and practice into delivering a solid performance.

Angela Rebbeck, Cheryl Hamlin and stage manager Derek Wintle added a great dimension to the play, directed attentively by Terry Kellow.

Bothwell - normally known as Pip the dog - was a welcome addition to the play, and of course stole the show.

The set design was artistic, lighting well used, and music perfectly chosen to suit the time and mood of the play.

Blake Drama Club delivered the light comedy with confidence and eloquence. Star quality truly filled the theatre, conviction and professionalism shone through the performance to produce a very tight and clean show.

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