I was very pleased to return to the arms of The Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club for a pleasant embrace and an enjoyable evening of theatre. This show took me to a new venue - The Adrian Man Theatre in Ewell, a working theatre within Nescot College (North East Surrey College of Technology). I often reference this in my reviews as yet another positive example of the fusion between commercial and community in the current age of theatre, perhaps not everywhere, but most certainly anywhere.
Formed in 1902, SADC is the oldest community theatre group in London. Quite the achievement and worthy of admiration for still putting on shows over 100 years later.
I approached this production with limited knowledge, aside from the fact that it was crafted by the renowned playwright, Tennessee Williams. But I was encouraged by Dick Bower as Director, a 50-year veteran of SADC and a safe pair of hands.
The material proved to be both engaging and thought-provoking, which is undoubtedly what one expects from Tennessee Williams. While I felt that the cast struggled at times to fully align their performances with the depth of the material, there were many commendable aspects to appreciate. The set design was particularly impressive, capturing the relaxed ambience of being off the coast of Mexico beautifully.
Although some performances may not have fully met the demands of the script, the entire cast showcased a number of standout moments throughout the production. I must commend Jo Lumsden on a brilliant 'Ms Gulch' like performance as Miss Judith Fellowes. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance, and it was a highlight for me.
My heart warmed to David Page as Johnathon Coffin, as he exuded a gentle wisdom on stage that completely put me at ease in my seat. The majority of the play featured three performers, two of whom were Julia Coleman portraying Maxine Faulk and Sanj Krishnan taking on the role of Mr. Shannon.
Both displayed commendable energy on stage and seemed genuinely dedicated to their roles, which enhanced the overall experience of the performance. It's quite difficult to project a lot of lines and monologues while maintaining an American accent throughout the duration, and anyone who takes on that challenge has my admiration.
But the exception to any criticism above would have to be Vanessa Marchant as Hanna Jelkes. What a performance! What a standout! Ms Marchant is a star, and the stage is her orbit. Every scene she was in and every line she spoke was a lesson in how to get the job bloody done.
Overall, I enjoyed the show and appreciated the effort put in by the company. Some elements of the show didn't land as well as they could have, but still a good piece of theatre.
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