August 21st. to 30th. 1997

SCENES FROM THE PRODUCTION

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Press Crit.

from The Ross Gazette

Alan Ayckbourn wrote Relatively Speaking, the latest production by Ross Operatic and Dramatic Society, to: " make people laugh when their seaside holidays were spoiled by the rain and they came into the theatre to get dry". On a hot August evening in Ross-on-Wye, there is no need to go to the Phoenix Theatre to get dry, but it is essential if you are looking for a good night out.

ROADS excel once again in this classic comedy of mis-communication. The audience roared their approval as the pace hotted up, the misunderstandings became ever more involved and the actors relaxed into their roles. By the end of the show, audience and actors alike seemed to be having a thoroughly good time. And as the jokes turned from a shower to a downpour, the heavens fittingly opened outside.

ROADS stalwart Tony Heseltine and Suzanne Hill shared the stage with promising youngsters Katharine Leech and Richard Mayo in a comedy which owed much to the Talents of the cast and director Wendy Ing.

Katharine,16, was making her debut with ROADS. She has recently been chosen from over 3,000 applicants to audition for the National Youth Theatre. It is an accolade richly deserved. She showed much promise and a maturity beyond her years in her role as Ginny. It was a big part to play and Katharine proved she was more than up to it.

Richard is no stranger to the role of a star crossed lover His first appearance with ROADS was as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Richard formed a strong partnership with Katharine, and showed that he has not been letting renovating his new house get in the way of developing his acting talents.

Bombastic business Philip was played to perfection by Tony with just the right amount of bluff and bluster. Comic roles are among his best and he was well suited to this one, clearly enjoying the communication chaos that unfolded on stage.

In another well matched pairing, Suzanne as Philip's vague wife Sheila, had the audience in stitches. The last to catch on to the whole situation, she reminded me of Richard Briar's wife in the TV comedy Ever Decreasing Circles. It was she who had the last laugh as the curtain closed, and it was a come-uppance for her husband that the audience relished.

While much credit must go the the four cast members for the consistently high standard of their performances, the back stage crew also excelled themselves. As the curtains opened to reveal "The Willows", Lower Pendon, Bucks., there was a spontaneous burst of applause from the audience. It was well deserved. The set was superb, with fine attention to detail, including the initials BW on the stone archway, a Hitchcock- esque touch from Brian Wozencroft, stage decor.

Relatively Speaking is showing until Saturday August 30 and there is no better way to spend an evening, whether it is raining or not.