The Group Poked Fun At Several Subjects

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31170, 21 September 1966, Page 18

The Group Poked Fun At Several Subjects

In a programme which poked fun at subjects as different as Greek gods, melodrama, diplomats and the inter-island ferry, the Group, presenting six short plays in the Shirley Boys’ High School Assembly Hall last night, showed the initiative, vigour and youthful iconoclasm which can make up for any lack of talent and polish. The audience was seated at tables in a hall festooned with the obvious decorations: Elizabethan pantaloons, travel posters, umbrellas. and nooses. Best of the nonsense on stage was Terry Shepherd’s production of lonesco’s “The Leader.” Helped by Rill Floyd’s controlled hysteria, and some excellent team work, the play rose to an exciting climax as the people in the mob suddenlydiscovered that they were really more interested in each other than in their propaganda-created leader. David Campton’s clever little play, “Out of the Flying Pan” gave Nigel Williams and John Stonyer a chance to chant and mime their ways through a satire, both moving and hilarious, on the hypocrisy unon which diplomacy u based Timing, sound ef-rin-ts. and the changing rhvthms of the piece were a '’’•edit to the producer. Grant Bovd.

An oririnal sketch by Peter Rosier. Philip Davies and David Marshall had moments

of superb fun. Their playing of Handel on the handlebars of a bicycle and the sweet farewell of the interisland steamer leaving her lover, the main trunk express, were examples of the witty clowning which at its best reminded one of the Cambridge Circus sketches. There were, however, less fortunate moments in their rompings.

Shaw’s “Poison, Passion and Petrifaction” took its place nicely in a programme of absurdity, and the cast got most of the laughs. Grant Boyd and John Stonyer were closest to the exaggerated style the play needs, and the producer, Chris Blackman. I had contrived the visual effects in just the right spirit In spite of a well-planned and pleasantly staged production by Murray Atkinson of “Life of Hercules. Page One," it suffered from lack of char-acter-projection, although Nigel Williams did well enough in his dual role. The other play, N. F. Simpson’s “Gladly Otherwise” was an enterprising choice, but needed menacing climaxes to highlight the satiric intention of the playwright. Considering the large number of young actors and actresses, and technicians involved in this programme, it is not surprising that the standard slumped at times, but the evening was surely a heartening showcase of youthful enterprise.