By Jo Fiddes
The latest offering from Fulneck Dramatic Society was a change from their usual format – instead of a single, longer play, the company offered four shorter pieces in one evening.
These included Just Another Day (a gentle comedy), Let’s Be Devils (a morality play), The 15-Minute Hamlet (Tom Stoppard’s very funny take on the Shakespearean tragedy), and The Psychopath (delivered in verse and written by company member William Lindley).
The reason for the format change is simple – over the past few years, Fulneck Dramatic Society has grown considerably. This presents the challenge of how to keep everyone involved and motivated when the opportunities to act and direct are limited.
Their bold solution was to offer an evening of shorter plays, thereby giving more people a chance to act and direct.
Kicking off was Just Another Day, all about a bride and her family’s nerves (or lack of) on the morning of her wedding. This was directed by Jack Massey, more familiar to me from his role as Willie Mossop in Hobson’s Choice. It was clear throughout the evening that Massey, alongside Joe Braham, Alex Wallis and William Lindley, were able to bring a performer’s instinct to their directorial roles.
Next up was a morality play, Let’s Be Devils. This was performed with a minimal set and this served to emphasise the characters and their actions. With some of the actors taking on several roles, this was a strong message, well delivered.
It seems harsh to select a favourite but mine was The 15 Minute Hamlet. Excellently done (there was even some audience participation) with a stand out lead performance from Charlie Crozier.
The final performance was The Psychopath. Set locally, this was a quirky take on the “shop local” message.
Each of the four plays had a distinct identity – which indicates that the directors had genuinely made the piece their own rather than following a house style. What struck me most was the consistency – four sets, four directors, four casts in one evening. A big ask and it would have been easy to have had a weak link. However, each play was strong in its own way and contributed to a well-balanced evening.
Finally, top marks to the stage managers and set builders. Designing and moving four different sets whilst ensuring each play retained its own visual identity must have been a huge undertaking. The success of the evening is in no small part down to these hidden and often overlooked company members.
I sincerely hope this is not a one off and Fulneck Dramatic Society make this an annual event.
Thank you Jo, for a wonderful review, you brought the whole evening back to me.
As always I had a brilliant evening and thought all four plays were magnificent.
I can’t decide whether my favourite was Jack Masseys “Just Another Day” or William Lindleys “Psychopath”
Very well done to all involved