by Liz Bellchambers
With its mix of straight-up realism and farcical comedy, Fur Coat and
No Knickers was an ideal choice for a group with a rich pool of
talent.
Think The Royale Family 30 years ago, but with half the cast ending up
trouserless at the end, performed by the Purple Theatre Company, a
talented group of youngish performers.
Sarit Gafan as the mother of the bride, Edith Ollerenshawe, sets the
working class Catholic scene, shuffling around the grim family sitting
room, overlooked by a picture of Jesus, patently with the world upon
her shoulders.
Miss Gafan rose to the demands of this part, which lie in both the
number of lines to learn and the understanding needed of the other
characters to make Edith's exchanges with them meaningful.
The rapport between all the actors makes for a smooth-running
performance throughout, and in group scenes combines with strong
individual performances for a triumphant result.
It would have been easy to believe brassy bride Deirdre Ollerenshawe
(Gemma Sharp) was typecast, she was so relaxed, but with acting
experience ranging from playing an old woman to musical theatre parts,
the fact is she is just plain good.
Along with the stag-night stripper played by Alex Barham, Gemma no
doubt distracted a few male members of the audience from the plot with
her foxy ways.
Toby Vennard, who played Irish priest Father Mollow, and Craig
Cameron-Fisher, as elderly boozer Nip, put in two assured comic
performances, reliably providing laughs throughout the performance.
Some wonderful smaller parts included the pair of naughty, slobbish
bridesmaids, Mandy Gasson and Alex Barham.
Set designers scored a coup by continuing the religious theme during
the wedding breakfast -- the line of tables across the stage was a
spit on The Last Supper.
Purple's talents extended beyond the stage, with their wedding
photograph album, with the characters pictured standing outside a real
church (St. Giles', just up the road from the theatre).
This well-paced, focused production was as good as many professional
shows.
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