Written by David Tristram, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd
Directed by Jenny Overy
Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society is in trouble. The membership has dwindled to four - the audiences aren't much bigger - and if they don't come up with some rent money soon, they're going to be thrown out. "There's only one thing that sells tickets these days" argues Gordon the Chairman. "Sex!". Thus begins the chaotic and hilarious build-up to an evening of extraordinary home-grown drama - an evening the locals would never forget!
'Last Tango in Little Grimley' is about a village Amateur Dramatic Club whose disparate group of only four members were pondering their grim future and choosing a play, likely to be their last. If you missed this you missed a real gem. The four Medstead Players' cast members each gave very professional performances. Their timing was darned near perfect, a difficult thing to achieve.
The cast had the audience roaring with laughter all through and especially at "Sex sells tickets" and had us trying to guess what on earth Margaret, ably played as always by Sue Ovell, had managed to do with her bosom, to cause such uproar.
Jan Bennett, who took the part of Joyce, was very well cast as a rather naive woman bent on putting on 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', until it had to be pointed out that there were only four cast members and none of them could sing.
Mike Overy added a very animated dour character who was hell bent on set building during rehearsals and Stan Whitcher played Gordon, writer, producer and general dog's body for the club. They both showed great delivery and timing for their very funny lines.
Happily the four cast of the Little Grimley Am Dram Club were saved from extinction, much to the relief of the audience who were appreciative and exhausted from laughing. Well done to Director Jenny Overy.
[Nita Simpson]
'Last Tango in Little Grimley' produced some hilarious lines from the well-seasoned cast who ably delivered them. The plot was to give the actors the means of rescuing the Dramatic Society form the failure it was fast approaching. Stan Whitcher as 'Gordon' the Chairman created an energetic pace for involving the other characters. The team working of the four characters was considerable and skilled. This consisted of Jan Bennett as 'Joyce' who persisted in her fixed agenda. Mike Overy as 'Bernard' a reluctant thespian and Sue Ovell as the fearless 'Margaret' who appeared willing to give her all for the cause. Directed by Jenny Overy the resulting fast paced activity was entertaining and very funny.
[Jean Laidlaw]