Grass Roots Theatre Company 
Allendale Centre, Wimborne 
KD Johnson 
15 August 2024
A request came in for one of us to review this show rather too late for it to be actioned but, as I happened to be there on opening night, I have been asked to write something for posterity.
Fresh from their debut (?) production of David Tristram’s one‑act Last Tango In Little Grimley at the Allendale Centre at the end of May, the Grass Roots Theatre Company has knocked up this stunning production of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s A Bunch Of Amateurs in just a few weeks. Most of we amateur theatricals spend a few months plodding through scenes and dialogue at a rate of one or two 2 hour rehearsals a week before finally getting to an unstable state of performance readiness about a week before curtain‑up (if we are lucky). The cast of this show started table readthroughs on 27 June and kick-off was just 49 days away. Wow! That takes dedication, experience and even “professionalism”.
This hilarious script by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman concerns a small village amateur production of King Lear into which a fading Hollywood action star (with no experience of Shakespeare, the UK or amateur theatre) finds himself (accidentally?) committed to by his agent.
So much for the plot (there is a bit more to it) – the execution is far from amateur.
Alan Colclough plays a convincing part as the self-obsessed action hero, Jefferson Steele – I don’t know whether Alan has played King Lear in the eponymous play but I am sure he could do, even Jefferson Steele does well in the part after a lot of development by the character. Chelsea Sherry shines as Jefferson’s star‑struck landlady and sings the only song in this show – so it’s just as well she has a background in musical theatre. James Soulsby came to acting in Project Play’s Dad’s Army only a couple of years ago but, having played the lead in Last Tango… in May, he brings off the comic role of Dennis Dobbins (and Shakespeare’s Earl of Gloucester) with aplomb – his various renditions of the infamous “Out, vile jelly” scene are far less harrowing than one I reviewed a couple of years ago – the real thing gives me nightmares!
Simon Meredith’s hammed-up acting as the jealous Nigel Dewberry is delightful – I have seen him perform before, so I know he’s not really that bad at Shakespeare. Julia Savill portrays the endlessly patient and forgiving director, Dorothy Nettle, with great sympathy while Lisa Watkinson sparkles as the sponsor’s wife, Lauren Bell (of the fictional Bell’s Brewery). Jill Richmond appears part way through the script and plays a great part as the star’s estranged daughter, Jessica – are all daughters that critical of their fathers? Mine are. There are great performances all round – very moving in parts – but with a lot of laughs. Some knowledge of Shakespeare’s King Lear is an advantage – but not essential.
There were, I think, only 30 odd of us in the audience on Thursday – but I helped spread the word, as did others, and it had decent audiences (not that we were indecent) for the remainder of the run – everyone that I have heard from enjoyed it. I, for one, will be looking out for future productions by this fresh and innovative new company and their talented ensemble – but please, if you want us to organise a review, please give us a few weeks’ notice.
A Bunch of Amateurs ran from Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August 2024.
