Review: From Here to the Library, and Too Long an Autumn

The Teddington Theatre Club revive two of Jimmie Chinn's plays: From Here to the Library and Too Long an Autumn. Both plays were originally premiered by the TTC and have been brought back to life with great care, says Aliya Al-Hassan.

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From Here to the Library. L to R: Dad – John Bellamy, Mr Gostelow – Matt O'Toole, Beryl – Tracy Frankson

Playwright Jimmie Chinn had a long association with Teddington Theatre Club. His plays From Here to the Library and Too Long an Autumn both had their premieres performed by the club and are now being revived at Hampton Hill Theatre this week.

The first in this double bill is From Here to the Library, a short three-hander set in the home of librarian Beryl and her irascible father. They are visited by her boss, Mr Gostelow, after Beryl has stormed out of her job in a fit of rage. As Mr Gostelow chats to Beryl, it becomes clear that there are deeper issues at play.

Tracy Frankson is excellent as Beryl. She demonstrates very well the inner turmoil of a simple woman living a simple life, but struggling with her situation. Matt O’Toole is pale and sensitive as Mr Gostelow, delving quietly to try and find the source of Beryl’s upset. John Bellamy is suitably curmudgeonly as Beryl’s dad, adding some comedy to the more serious points of the play.

This is a gentle and subtly sweet insight into a slice of a very ordinary woman’s life. While the cast certainly plays to the elements very reminiscent of similar works by Alan Bennett, there is a lack of the poignant emotional depth of Bennett.

Too Long an Autumn has more balance and pathos. It is the bittersweet story of aged music hall star Maisie May, banished to a nursing home of elderly ex-performers by her emotionally stunted son and daughter in law. While she is slowly going mad with boredom, she is approached by a theatre producer who wants to bring her back to the stage.

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Too Long an Autumn. L to R: Mrs Ursula Windrush – Zoe Arden, Arnold Windrush – Matt O'Toole, Miss Tate – Lizzie Williams

Chinn’s sensitive writing is beautifully realised by the cast. Sue Viney is very convincing and funny as Maisie May, playing the fool to amuse herself and pass the time. Her body may be weaker, but her spirit is as lively as ever.

Matt O’Toole appears again as Maisie’s cold son Arnold. Unfortunately, there is not enough distinction between Arnold and the slightly awkward character of Mr Gostelow in the first play to make the audience forget they are played by the same actor.

Arnold’s emotionally cold wife is played with icy aplomb by Zoe Arden and Clare Henderson Roe is having a ball playing the batty character of Dora, Maisie’s neighbour in the nursing home.

The story remains very relevant; where families try to accommodate an older relative, only to pass them over when they become too much trouble to handle by doing inconvenient things like falling. What dates the play is Maisie’s revelation that her upcoming birthday will be her 70^th. When the play was written in 1985, to be 69 was regarded as being elderly. In 2017, it seems impossible for a woman as vital and lively as Maisie would be regarded as old at 69, let alone infirm.

Director Ken Mason exploits all the comedy from Chinn’s writing, some of which is very funny, while retaining the delicate sensitivity and pathos of the subject.

It is always impressive to see what can be created with little budget and in the confines of the Noel Coward theatre space. These two plays are poignant, nostalgic and warm viewing for a cold night.

From Here to the Library – 3 stars

Too Long an Autumn – 4 stars