See How They Run: NODA Review

Author: Gordon Harris

“See How They Run”: I can see where the title came from! The Lindley Players didn’t just run, they galloped through this play by Philip King. Director Peter Hunt’s perfect casting and superb professionalism in direction made this comedy farce a riot. Set Design was magnificent (Peter Harrington) and made the stage look vast, as close to the ’40s as it could be, with so many props (Claire Bushell and Val Tiley) all in period – this set is worthy of a West End production.

I don’t think I have seen a cast work so hard in all the years I have been writing reports for NODA. I cannot fault any of them. The dialogue between them was fast and furious – not a line dropped – and there was a lot of close timing, all on cue. Charlotte Lewis, a little dopey as Ida the maid, and Lucie Nash as Miss Skillon, gave us comedy moments just by the nuances on their faces. Lionel Toop (Ollie Graveson) and his wife (Ellen Simmons) bounced off each other perfectly. James Roberts (as Clive Winton) this part needed to be very mobile and James was certainly that. John McCrae as Bishop of Lax was equally funny and had great stage craft, along with Dan Coles (Rev Arthur Humphrey), Mark Almond and Christy Hinchchliffe, This cast had great camaraderie between them, and that spilled over into the audience: exactly what a farce should do. Once again a perfect evening’s entertainment at The Playhouse.