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Review
At
last Fairlight was able to share a long-awaited challenging thriller with so
many obstacles overcome to present this chilling suspense classic. Two petty
crooks, one recently released from prison are always ready to make some easy
money. Another ruthless character conjures up a plan and cons the others to
create diversions to get hold of the stash inside a doll. This has been
unintentionally brought home by photographer Sam on his recent return from
Amsterdam - a doll that contains a large amount of heroin and that the evil Roat,
a man of many disguises will by any means retrieve. Suzy, his wife, is a
determined and resourceful woman blinded by an accident and uses her
determination in dealing with the three interlopers into her home in search of the
doll, which at one point has been stolen by the strange 12-year-old Gloria, a
girl from upstairs who helps Suzy with shopping and cleaning, not always
willingly. She is an observant child, and it is she who helps to bring the
criminals to their knees. The plot requires a great amount of concentration, is
very tense and at times you could hear a pin drop in the audience.
The
basement kitchen/lounge set was superbly created by Trevor Lewing and his team,
with a high standard of finish and numerous working props gathered by Jenny
Turner. The flat opened by front door with yale key latch, a couple of steps
down with a banister and rail into a complete kitchen, with photographic
development area to one side with a line running, pegs holding drying photographs.
Kitchen units and bench, with stools under, along the side to include a sink
area, pipes above used for signalling purposes, a bin under, washing machine,
two venetian blinded small windows above, a shelf with
various china items and glassware, a large refrigerator with strategic interior
light. A square kitchen table was set with chairs, a two-piece sofa, with
telephone table and dial phone to the side, and in front a box coffee table. To
the far side to the left of the bedroom room was placed a four-drawer filing
cabinet and to its left the locked safe. Light switches, a fuse box, pull-on
light, pictures hanging completed the picture.
Chairman,
Director Keith Miller gave a commendable performance as leading conman Roat, who
looked most intimidating in a black leather jacket, gloves, dark glasses who was
not opposed to threatening with a knife and dousing petrol. He changed his persona
into other characters that of elderly Roat Snr. and his concerned son, changing
both voices and appearances.
Congratulations
to Jackie Eichler on her Fairlight debut in the demanding lead role of Suzy – a
huge amount of script and business with the added challenge of being
convincingly blind. Her play husband Sam was characterised by Alan Haynes also
making his first appearance at Fairlight and was good to see him treading the
boards again.
Regular
Tom Miller appeared as Mike and although seemed tough had the ability to
befriend the vulnerable Suzy – again much script and business well executed. His
co-conman Croker took on the role of a convincing detective complete with
raincoat and notebook in hand who was constantly dusting away his fingerprints!
Gloria was the annoying child who came good for Suzy and was
very confidently acted by Jessamy Read having last appeared in the Vicar of
Dibley in 2018 as a glittering angel. A mention to Police 1 and 2 Bez Cuss and
Peter Spencer for bringing the rogues to justice.
A production like this needed a considerable amount of
technical work too and Peter Hogg oversaw lighting. Perfect cues were needed
and together with a number of noises off, with Andrew Mier at the helm co-ordination
was very well achieved.
To the joint production team Asst. Director Charlotte
Eastes, Production Manager Vicki Miller, Lucy Hogg on design and publicity, the
wardrobe of the era organised by Sandi Mouzer, and all those behind the scenes
thank you for a chilling and tense but most enjoyable evening.
A précised Report appears on the NODA website.
Anne
Lawson
NODA
SE
Regional
Representative
District
3
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