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A mid-life matrimonial crisis in which laughter is triumphant over tears
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Many of our regular audiences will remember ‘Frank Vickery’s Trivial Pursuits’ which the Progressive Players performed in December 1999. This successful production was directed by Steve Davies and included Maureen Duffy and Mike Keir in the cast. Given the audience response to this production it was natural for the Progressive Players to dip into Frank Vickery’s other plays to find another piece to put on for our audience. For our production of ‘Biting the Bullet’ Steve and Maureen feature in the cast while Mike directs the play. Ted is in his fifties but is having trouble in coming to terms with middle age. He is married to Beryl who has spent the last building her life around him. When Ted decides to leave his marriage of more than thirty years behind to go in search of his lost youth Beryl’s neighbour Dawn and daughter Angie rally round in support of Beryl who is clearly devastated by her new situation. The three women make an unlikely group (the depressed Beryl, the gossiping Dawn who is almost oblivious to much around her and the rebellious Angie) - and they provide us with much laughter as they try to help Beryl come to terms with her new life. But the biggest influence on Beryl turns out to be the young handsome gardener Scott who comes into their lives and provides the still solid centre on which Beryl can re-build her life. This play provided the audience with much to laugh at within a serious and thought provoking situation as we see this middle aged couple both trying to adjust to their new situation.
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