It's Never Too Late
Reviewed by the Doorsteppa Magazine
It is hard to believe that it has been only four months since City Players last production, Peter Colley’s thriller, ‘I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.’ On a chilly February night a full house packed into the locally renowned Corner Playhouse, this time to watch an altogether different presentation, Ron Aldridge’s mid-life crisis comedy 'It’s Never Too Late.'
Susan Shaw, heading towards her 60’s finds herself in a position where her husband has left her for a younger woman, she’s brought up the kids and run the home, and faces the realisation that time is simply ticking away.
Her fellow committee members offer different advice on what she should do. Telling her to think of herself, get fit and even get a toy boy! Susan decides to take action, and with the help of her friend Linda, we follow her attempts to start a new life in the belief ‘it’s never too late.’
From the moment the curtains open and the once again impressive set construction is revealed, the City Players provide us with a relentlessly energetic and technically flawless performance. The fast and funny production had the audience on a roller coaster of emotions. The dialogue continued at a cracking pace right up until the end. There were plenty of laughs and lots of clever quips. Susan is every inch the wronged woman, who rises to find herself the object of more than one man’s desires.
Linda Munton plays Susan excellently, and a serious injury at the last minute didn’t stop her from displaying all the intricacies necessary of this central role. It’s a testimony to her skill and experience that she pulled this off. Stalwart members Matthew Joynes, John Donnelly and Mick Davison add their familiar experience and comic skill to the stage. The queue of suitors formed in Susan’s direction had the audience in raptures.
The introduction of two new members was a particular highlight. Drew Biggin, playing Peter Bridges, produced a masterclass of comedy blows delivered with all the subtlety of a sledge hammer cracking a nut! His 20 years experience adding a real presence to the Corner Playhouse stage.
Lauran Bates played the key role of Susan’s confidant Linda Bridges. She looked every inch a natural in her first introduction to amateur theatre. Her gifted and relentlessly energetic interpretation hit all the right notes and hopefully she continues her involvement in theatre for a long time to come.
There is no doubt that this presentation of ‘It’s Never Too Late’ would grace any stage, and this was confirmed by the thunderous applause from the audience at the final curtain.
The logistics of organising three plays a year must be a mammoth task, yet the City Players seem to take it all in their stride, the productions following each other with such rapidity that I sometimes wonder how they manage to find time to put a show together at all, let alone fit in rehearsals!
If you are interested in any aspect of theatre I would strongly recommend going along to see what they are all about. I had the opportunity to see behind the scenes during this production and was welcomed by everyone. Their friendly team are always on the look out for new faces.
"It's Never Too Late". The Doorsteppa, Feb 2016. Print.