London Theatre audiences of ‘Phantom’ or ‘Les Miserables’ expect to see and be thrilled by the elaborate stage sets. Last month, the audiences in Plumley Village Hall were treated to the same high standard of complex stage setting, designed and principally constructed by Chris Wilson for the production of ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13¾’, taking everyone by surprise. With a garden at floor level, steps up to a living room, hallway and kitchen with more stairs up to two bedrooms, (in one of which Mr and Mrs Mole spent quite some time!) and a bathroom (Adrian Mole actually sat on the porcelain toilet), the admiration from the audiences was well deserved. All this on the small stage in Plumley Village Hall. Such a set was admirably complemented by the performance. The story by Sue Townsend is well-known but not perhaps, the stage show with its liberal number of songs that enhance the script. In a well-rehearsed show with numerous scenes the cast carried an appreciative audience; notable were the younger members with Adam Wright as Adrian, Eleanor Barlow as Pandora and Peter Smithson as Nigel/Barry, whilst Sarah Rickelton was the schoolgirl, all of whom seemed so at home on the stage that it must bode well for the future of amateur Dramatics in Plumley. Accomplished performances from Roger Barlow and Rebecca Taylor as Mr and Mrs Mole, Jonathan Lloyd as the philandering Mr Lucas with Stephanie Wattam as his long-suffering wife and Sarah Sherwood as Adrian’s Grandma anchoring all the teenage trials and tribulations conjured up by Adrian Mole. A charming portrayal of poor Miss Doreen Slater by Paula Mattock was countered by Harry Kennedy’s wonderfully cantankerous 89 year old Bert Baxter. The play was directed by Harry Kennedy and choreographed and produced by Sophia Kennedy. Arthur Taylor was Musical Director of a four piece orchestra that led virtually every cast member in a number of solo songs competently performed. An excellent night out but that set... WOW!!
For more information about this production, please see our Past Productions page for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾.