‘MY FAT FRIEND’ |
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| Review by Thomas Sunderland |
Todmorden Hippodrome Theatre
Wednesday 30th September to Saturday 3rd October 2009
I was lucky enough to see the dress rehearsal of Todmorden Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of My Fat Friend at Todmorden Hippodrome Theatre last night, and if the dress rehearsal is anything to go by, this play is going to have a great run.
Charles Laurence’s production is based around the rotund Vicky, a semi-depressed, weight-obsessed bookshop owner who is asked out on a date by the bleach-blonde oil prospector Tom, played by Matt Parker. Tom is destined to leave the country for four months and, in that time, Vicky is supported (or rather un-supported) by her lodgers Henry and James, to lose weight and surprise her new beau on his return from foreign lands.
This is a very cleverly constructed play brought to life by Martin Cook, who is directing a senior play for the first time. There are lots of clever little touches in this witty, compelling and often tragic play, and audience members must watch out for the wonderful moments involving the oven gloves! The bitter – sweet moments come through extremely well and are brought vividly to life by the cast. Sarah Jane Kitchen, who plays Vicky, runs a gamut of emotions with great ease; from soaring highs to pitiful lows, and everything in between. Anyone who has ever suffered a weight problem (as this poor writer has) will totally understand her feelings of hopelessness, optimism and resignation.
Gary Starr, who is making his debut on the Hippodrome stage, shines like a seasoned professional; with his facial expressions being a sheer joy. Nick Turner, who plays the gloriously camp Henry, brings his character to life with boundless energy, cutting one-liners and wonderful put downs. The cast is completed by Matt Parker, playing Tom, the mysterious book-buying stranger with a curious obsession. Tom is certainly inexplicable, and his final scene played against Vicky is superb.
This is truly an ensemble piece, with each character bouncing off one another with ease. There is a very natural feel to this play; it is unhurried, well paced and extremely well delivered. There is a tendency with some directors to make these types of plays overly sentimental, but Cook and his cast displayed no such actions; the story came through with a sense of compassion and real understanding.
All the essential components were there to make this a very compelling production; a brilliantly designed set that looked stunning from the moment the audience entered the auditorium (I think this is one of the best sets I have seen at the Hippodrome), the lighting, sound effects, props and costume all deserve equal praise, as they each played their part in bringing this play to life.
This was an excellent evenings entertainment – well done to Director, cast and crew; a must see if you have an evening to spare. The play runs until Saturday.