An Evening Of One Act Plays

Poole & Parkstone Productions [P&P Productions] The Spire, Poole Becki Dawson 25 October 2024

The Poole & Parkstone Players was established in 2005 as one arm of the multi-faceted P&P society and always has something great to show us.

This evening’s performance provides great value in two plays for £10 at their performance venue of The Spire in Poole High Street. Seating is ‘cabaret style’, around tables, and the two plays are shown from opposite sides of the performance hall.

Eight Seconds by Stephen Scheurer-Smith and directed by Claire l’Anson is a comedy play around a locum doctor and his poor manners leading to misdiagnosis of several patients. The play follows three patients’ stories as they try to get through to Dr Bryson who seems to only want a quick fix.

Angus Maule plays the part of Dr Bryson well, getting across his rude and disinterested mannerisms and as a viewer you can become frustrated with his characteristics, even when it is not you he is meant to diagnose! Genette Churchill plays Lydia sympathetically and is very convincing as a GP in the practice. The three patients played by Tilly Churchill, Victoria Stanton and Barbara Bone are also very good, each with their own challenging storyline – Barbara’s portrayal of Joan’s misadventures is one not to be missed.

This was set at the more difficult end of the hall where the acoustics are not as good, but the simple set is well thought out. A little more lighting dynamics may have brought more focus to each of the scenes, but this did not distract from a very funny play.

Women Only by David Tristram and directed by Chris Roberts is about Laura, a divorcee, and her recently widowed mother Ruth, who decide to go on a much needed holiday. A few gin and tonics later, and Laura’s world seems to be turned upside down by Ruth in a hilarious run of confessions.

Catherine Attridge, playing Laura, and Nicola King, playing Ruth, must both work hard to keep the pace and attention of the viewers when they are the only ones on stage and there is a lot of dialogue, but they manage this with ease. Their onstage chemistry easily convinces you of a mother-daughter relationship and they both have very good comedic timing and facial expressions.

This was set in the opposite side of the hall where the lighting was brighter and easier to manage, but due to the whole thing being set in one room it did not need to change. These plays may have been better set at the opposite ends of the hall to allow for this, but the acting was great and held your focus throughout.

The shows are repeated once more today (Saturday 26 October) in a matinée at 2:30pm and there is still a chance for you to get your tickets.