A ghastly dinner party is the rich setting for this entertaining John Chapman romp on until Sat May 4 at Mary Wallace Theatre. Steve Davis reviews...
OUR VERDICT
The play opens in what must be one of the most embarrassing dinner parties ever. The guests, Madge and Charles (Cath Messum and Matt Dennis) are witnessing the break-up of their hosts Rupert and Sarah’s (David Kay & Kate Wilcox) marriage in loud and graphic detail. The situation is not improved when Sarah’s mother, Mrs Cullen (Maxina Cornwell), unexpectedly drops in.
However, at this point, the play fragments when Rupert not only forgets his lines but seems intent on inflicting violence on his ‘friend’ Charles. It becomes clear that the marital disharmony that is at the centre of the play is mirrored in the lives of the actors. Rupert is certain that his wife Madge is having an affair with Charles and, while he is incandescent with rage about her treachery, is also attracted to Sarah who seems to reciprocate. The situation is not simplified by the appearance of a nurse (Denise Tomlinson).
The play is forgotten now as the actors play out their ‘real life’ drama. The audience witnesses this new turn of events as the truant theatre management and the inept Prompt, Angela (Lynda-Louise Tomlinson) are incapable of bringing the curtain down on the performance.
The concept of a ‘play within a play’ is certainly not a new one. Indeed the Richmond Shakespeare Society, whose production this is, will have no doubt performed possibly the most famous one in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. But ‘Kindly Leave the Stage’ is more reminiscent of Michael Frayn’s ‘Noises Off’ than ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. Even while the anger and bitterness of the relationships are being brutally examined the cast can’t help critiquing each other’s performances resulting in Rupert amusingly replaying some scenes in the style of Charles Laughton.
The humour is further enhanced when Edward (a superb performance by Michael Andrew), a gifted Shakespearean actor whose career has been marred by his affection for alcohol is thrown into the setting without understanding what’s going on. This, as he mentions, is every actor’s greatest fear however it does not stop him stealing every scene in which he appears.
Originally written in 1992 by the late John Chapman, ‘Kindly Leave the Stage’ could have taken place anywhere from the 1970s to the early 2000s and its somewhat timeless quality is nicely realised by the excellent cast from the RSS under the directorship of Scott Tilley and his team. There’s a lightness of touch that stops the farcical elements from becoming oppressive and makes this production an enjoyable night out.
Venue: Mary Wallace Theatre Twickenham
Dates: 1 May – 4 May 2019
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