NODA Show Report
by Elizabeth Donald
I didn’t know what to expect of the production but I found the whole hugely entertaining. This drama was cleverly done and well executed by all its participants. Clarity of lines, maintenance of accents and clear characterisations were the hallmarks of this production. Rebekah Lansley brought out the fragility yet determination of Iris Carr in her hunt to find what happened to Miss Froy the lady who befriended her after she fainted. Her bewilderment over Miss Froy’s disappearance and at the other passengers’ disbelief that such a lady had been on the train was palpable. Rae Lamond presented Miss Froy as a helpful and generous woman who happened to mention she was changing her employment - all part of the plot thickening. The sceptical but practical Professor with his finicky pipe smoking was brought to life by Geoff Lee while Greg McCafferty Thomson gave us a Max Hare who was charming as a confident yet had us wondering if he was not entirely innocent of collusion too. The two elderly ladies were a delight. Dorothy Johnstone the down to earth Miss Evelyn with her movement, stance and mannerisms of an old lady spinster were beautifully caught while Liz Landsman as her sister Miss Rose was delightfully comedic. Both ladies timed their lines to maximum effect. Gillian Robertson as the younger but garrulous Mrs Barnes the vicar’s wife carried off her part with panache- I loved the comedic effect of her talking over others’ conversations and her physical encounters squeezing past other passengers. The sombre nature of the Rev Barnes played by Scott Thomson was a contrast -or maybe a reaction- to his wife’s overt character. Meanwhile Simon Boothroyd as the Doctor came over as suspicious from the first especially later with his meaningful facial expressions whereas Susanne Horsburgh as The Baroness was a creepy character with an imposing aura seeping from her even while saying nothing. Supporting the whole in their roles were Fiona Main and Larry Weil as the Todhunters and the hard to define Elaine Clark as Frau Kummer- what was she really up to? The set of the train carriage, and the dining car gave a trapped feel-there was even a working window- (what memories that evoked) and the simulated shoogling of the passengers with the movement of the train was so believable. The waiter used this to this great comic effect. Lighting was unobtrusive and effective. This was a well produced drama, racing along and keeping us all guessing to the end. Wonderful entertainment.
by Elizabeth Donald
I didn’t know what to expect of the production but I found the whole hugely entertaining. This drama was cleverly done and well executed by all its participants. Clarity of lines, maintenance of accents and clear characterisations were the hallmarks of this production. Rebekah Lansley brought out the fragility yet determination of Iris Carr in her hunt to find what happened to Miss Froy the lady who befriended her after she fainted. Her bewilderment over Miss Froy’s disappearance and at the other passengers’ disbelief that such a lady had been on the train was palpable. Rae Lamond presented Miss Froy as a helpful and generous woman who happened to mention she was changing her employment - all part of the plot thickening. The sceptical but practical Professor with his finicky pipe smoking was brought to life by Geoff Lee while Greg McCafferty Thomson gave us a Max Hare who was charming as a confident yet had us wondering if he was not entirely innocent of collusion too. The two elderly ladies were a delight. Dorothy Johnstone the down to earth Miss Evelyn with her movement, stance and mannerisms of an old lady spinster were beautifully caught while Liz Landsman as her sister Miss Rose was delightfully comedic. Both ladies timed their lines to maximum effect. Gillian Robertson as the younger but garrulous Mrs Barnes the vicar’s wife carried off her part with panache- I loved the comedic effect of her talking over others’ conversations and her physical encounters squeezing past other passengers. The sombre nature of the Rev Barnes played by Scott Thomson was a contrast -or maybe a reaction- to his wife’s overt character. Meanwhile Simon Boothroyd as the Doctor came over as suspicious from the first especially later with his meaningful facial expressions whereas Susanne Horsburgh as The Baroness was a creepy character with an imposing aura seeping from her even while saying nothing. Supporting the whole in their roles were Fiona Main and Larry Weil as the Todhunters and the hard to define Elaine Clark as Frau Kummer- what was she really up to? The set of the train carriage, and the dining car gave a trapped feel-there was even a working window- (what memories that evoked) and the simulated shoogling of the passengers with the movement of the train was so believable. The waiter used this to this great comic effect. Lighting was unobtrusive and effective. This was a well produced drama, racing along and keeping us all guessing to the end. Wonderful entertainment.
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