A lively lot

'A POLICEMAN'S LOT', performed by Kintbury Players and St. Mary's Drama Group, at the Coronation Hall, Kintbury, from Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30

You can always rely on a good time when you visit Kintbury Players and their latest production 'A Policeman's Lot', in collaboration with St. Mary's Drama Group, was no exception. The art of coarse acting was alive and positively kicking in three one-act plays, with a hilarious cod ballet thrown in for good measure.

In the first, a detective story 'Streuth', everything was awry. A misplaced corpse, scenery being put into place during the action, lines wrongly delivered, delightful upstaging maid (Carol Moss) and enough ham to keep us all in stitches. Tony Hillitt was particularly good as the Inspector and Jim Cutler as the vacant Major was excellent

'Trapped' was the second offering, with the family gathering for the reading of the proverbial will. Again all the aspects of the worst amateur production were observed in toe-curling reality. Everything that could go wrong did, again to the delight of the audience. Pete Watson as Braithwaite, the evil family solicitor gave a performance that, quite simply, made even coarse acting look refined.

'Swan Lake' was the opener for the second act, with Chris Trigwell and Pete Watson vying for the most impressive lunchbox, and Mo Osborne as the not-so-graceful swan. Enough said.

The last offering, 'Pride of Southanger Park' was a period piece set in the early 19th century: 'A wonderful love story of rival suitors seeking the hand of the sweet heroine' (sic). With very funny performances from Judith Nye (Lady Fanny), Tony Hillitt (The Rev. Giles Henry), Catherine Hedges (Cecily Chichester), Olly Fur as the very impressive, in more ways than one, Marcus D'Angelo and Mary Staddon as the belligerent front of house manager interrupting the proceedings with great glee.

Director Chris Trigwell with his large and lively cast (all worthy of note but too numerous to mention) brought the best out in the pieces. Although these plays by their nature tended to be a bit repetitive in the flavour of the humour and the jokes, a good set and technical back-up and a tremendous sense of fun ensured mat we all went away very well entertained and happy.

TREVOR DOBSON