Dick Barton, Special Agent Local troupe St Faith’s Players, who on 18th-21st May put on a blistering production of this comedy-spoof-musical-thriller at Watermans, have close ties with the Island.
In this production, Islanders Jennie Shaw and Caroline Jones were co-producers (with Penny Vincent); Caroline also acted, sang and danced, and Jennie was responsible for Props and was very busy moving objects backstage for the actors to use.
BLIRA ex-Chair William Shaw was again a stalwart of the set design and construction team. Orhideea Rosu was the make-up artist. Happily for all, the play went down a treat with the audience: we all grinned and laughed our way from start to finish. Phil Willmott’s evergreen script is a clever, innuendo-laden hoot. With many set changes, and complex lighting and sound demands, it’s not an easy production for an amateur company, but St Faith’s managed it triumphantly.
The whole acting crew gelled well, and it’s invidious to single out individuals, but this Scottish reviewer has to mention Jim Kent, who played Jock, one of Dick Barton’s two sidekicks, with a brilliant, nuclear-powered over-the top accent and kilt to match.
Do keep a lookout for St Faith’s future productions.
Extract from our ‘Island LIFE’ newsletter
