Reviews Received for Albert Make Us Laugh - April 2005

Finally! I have got round to writing my thoughts about Albert Make Us Laugh - sorry it has taken so long.

I saw the show on the final night and was among an audience that according to the cast were the most subdued of the plays run. I don't believe it was a reflection on the performance, as everyone around me was totally drawn into the story as it unfolded and there was certainly laughter even if not loud enough for the cast to be sure of the reception.

On a personal level, I have to say that I thought the production was brilliantly done and a brave choice for the PVADS, being known more for their farce and light drama. The cast as usual gave their all to the performance and the technical crew had a chance to show off their sometimes overlooked skills .

I think the leading actors were all perfectly cast and managed to re-create the feeling of the era. Darren was superb as Albert and I know moved many to shed a tear in his heart felt recollection of his nightmare. Simone it was great to see you back on the stage where you always shine, and to the rest of the cast, LA, Jane, Nick, Paul, John, Nettie, Kay, Rob, Dave, Alison, Kate, Alex, Lottie and anyone I have accidently forgotten, apologies in advance, well done it was fab.

It is always an uncomfortable story to touch on and many of us watching will at times have felt slightly uncomfortable but that just shows how well acted the play was to make us feel that rollercoaster of emotions .

Well done everyone!!!

Review from Adele Hudson

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(received after our Friday performance)

Dear Cast and Crew of PVADS

We came to see the play last night "Albert Nutall - makes us laugh" and I felt I had to write to say Thank you for a FANTASTIC evening. I laughed, cried and I felt you brought all the characters to life in a powerful and professional way. The lighting, sets costumes casting and performances were superb - you have surpassed yourselves!

Thanks again keep up the good work. I hope your last night is a blast "break a leg".

Kindest regrads

Milly Charmichael

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THE class of 1950 something at Belmont Fields Secondary Modern School all deserve a gold star for their poignant and sensitive handling of a drama centring on the taboo subject of incest.

The cast of Pewsey Amateur Dramatic Society's latest production Albert: Make Us Laugh, presented on April 20, 22 and 23 in the Bouverie Hall was nigh on perfection on the opening night. One might have expected the polyphonic ring of a mobile phone in the audience in the opening minutes to put them off. However, apart from a couple of discreet prompts the entire show was faultless. Credit must go to Martin Clifton and Nettie Powell the co-directors and to the lighting and sound team for a professionally presented show.

Two subjects that might not be considered politically correct to be included in entertainment were delicately handed: incest and what would nowadays be termed as special needs.

Simpleton Enid Nuttall, who had an illegitimate son by her own brother - a scruff well portrayed by John Lavis -- was played with great pathos by Nettie Powell. Her hand-wringing role was aped by her backward son Albert played with great sensitivity by Darren Little who with enormous skill prevented his very touching part lapsing into comedy. There were some funny moments that the audience enjoyed as a contrast to the melodrama of the central story.

The 15 strong cast had clearly well-rehearsed their parts for the play written by Jimmie Chin with the intention of adults playing the part of an intake class in the Fifties in a typical rural secondary modern school. Albert was labelled as daft and smelly in the cruel way that children do single out one of their peers who is not quite all the ticket. Many of the largely grown-up audience probably had a touch of déjà vu at some of the scenes and maybe even recalled how they, too, in their own schooldays latched on to some poor boy or girl's infirmity and joined in a general melee of jibes and insults. I know I certainly did.

One or two scenes were set in the nutty Nuttall's cottage beside a railway line and there were some clever sound effects with a steam train passing from one side of the stage to the other. The pathos of the most moving moments when Albert, alone on the stage, spoke to the audience was effectively heightened by clever down-lighting putting him in shadow. The play needed a minimum of props and scenery that took nothing away from the complexity of the story.

The playwright clearly intended to capture the cruel nature of children towards the less fortunate and maybe there was a lesson in life there for all those who saw the play.

Reviewed by Nigel Kerton - Gazzette & Herald

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