When We Are Married, St Vincent's ADS, Rutherford Drive, Over Hulton. Runs until Saturday. THIS production of J B Priestley's farcical comedy had the audience rolling in the aisles as this new theatre company took their bow last night.
The obvious rapport and understanding between the actors in the company gave the impression they had been together as a group a long time. But the programme proudly announced St Vincent's ADS as a new company, complete with recently built new stage in the parish hall to perform on.
And guest of honour to mark the occasion the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Eric Johnson and his wife Ida lead the laughter from the front row. The whole cast was strong and kept the pace of the farce moving, delivering Priestley's witty lines with the comic timing and feeling they require.
The off-stage prompt was required on a couple of occasions, but this was understandable and did not detract from the flow of the production.
Particularly funny were Eddie Hulme as Alderman Joseph Helliwell, Elsie Atkinson as the cutting Clara Soppitt and Kevin Forrest as one of the most convincing drunks I've seen on the amateur stage as photographer Henry Ormonroy.
I'm sure any fans of this play would enjoy this very creditable version and anyone who enjoys a well produced farce, laced with plenty of straight talking Yorkshire wit, would certainly get a few laughs from this.
St Vincent's say they are not sure what show they will perform next, but if it is as good as this show it will be worth watching. MARK LONGBOTTOM
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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