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Sailor, Beware! |
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Neath Little Theatre |
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Neath Little Theatre, Westernmoor Road, Neath |
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May 17, 2005 |
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| In his mighty tome Halliwell's Film Companion, the late Leslie Halliwell damns the 1956 movie adaptation of the Philip King/ Falkland L. Cary comedy Sailor, Beware! with faint praise, dismissing it as a "plain but adequate film version of a successful lowbrow farce". There is certainly nothing plain about Neath Little Theatre's latest production, which faithfully re-creates the atmosphere, styles and moral code of the 1950s, the period in which this rollicking and delightfully old-fashioned comedy is set. Director Margaret Ormrod, an NLT veteran whose involvement with the society dates back to the 1930s, clearly has a strong sense of period and has worked hard with her cast and crew to ensure that the flavour of the piece is rich and fruity. To have Tracey Walton playing the role of the pivotal matriarch Emma Hornett - a character portrayed in the movie by no less an archtypal dragon than he late great Peggy Mount - is especially valuable: here is an actress who understands the motivations and expectations of previous generations, as is evident here from her spirited and doggedly determined characterisation of a prospective mother-in-law who would make strong men quake in their boots. Even the hairstyle - of which the aforementioned Peggy Mount would have been proud - and the functional but imposing wardrobe are spot on. Cynthia Pollard also scores highly as gormless Auntie Edie, a woman with a sad secret from her past, and Ralph Williams is splendid as henpecked Henry Hornett, whose only escape from the humdrum reality of everyday life is his colony of pet ferrets. Emma Walker portrays prospective bride Shirley Hornett, while her best friend Daphne Pink(complete with saucy 1950s-style stocking tops - no incongruous lace topped hold-ups here!)is played by the delightfully animated and lively Sarah Green. Donna McOnie's nosey neighbour Mrs Lack also adds much to the fun, while the two sailors who are central to the action - bridegroom- to-be Albert Tuffnell and best man Carnoustie Bligh - are played to the hilt by Lee Edwards and Paul Rees, both of whom handle the period humour and dialogue perfectly. Good to see an amateur company being unafraid to tackle populist fare with such a ready appeal to the older generation - and also appealing to many younger theatre fans along the way. |
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| Graham Williams | |
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