Laying The GhostWritten by: Simon Williams
Directed by: Rob Smith Performed at the Pump House Theatre, Watford. 23rd to 26th February 2011 Laying the Ghost by Simon Williams mixes laugh out loud comedy with deeply touching moments. Margot Buchanan, an ex-actress living in an actor’s retirement home, is trying to forget it’s her seventieth birthday but all those around her are intent on reminding her. Even Freda, her best friend who seems to think she see’s dead people, won’t leave her alone. Worse still, the tabloids are having a field day with her ex-husband, Sir Leo Buchanan, who she would also rather forget. Unfortunately for Margot, she is about to have a very eventful day with a number of unexpected and unwelcome guests. First is Sadie Croft, an aspiring young actress who wants acting tips for playing a passionate Juliet. They are interrupted by the arrival of Lady Judy Buchanan, Sir Leo's current wife, also supposedly trying to mark the birthday. Margot is not overly welcoming, the main beneficiary of this encounter being the swear box! Sir Leo then makes an equally unwelcome appearance, on the run from a tabloid reporter. If that hasn’t ruined Margot’s special day, then someone dying surely will. Everything finally sorts itself out but not before a deeply touching ending when Margot receives a very unexpected birthday gift! 
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Laying The Ghost - Belmont Theatre Company - Promotional Flyer
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Cast and Crew
CastIn order of appearance
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Crew
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Gallery
Cast Pictures
Rehearsals
Dress Rehearsal - Act 1
Dress Rehearsal - Act 2
Building the Set
Noda Report
National Operatic & Dramatic Association - London Region
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Society
Production Date Venue Report by |
: Belmont Theatre
: Laying The Ghost : 24th February 2011 : The Pump House Theatre : Harvey Kesselman |
Margot Buchanan and Freda Deacon are two elderly actresses residing in Yew Tree House, a retirement home for actors somewhere on the South Coast. It is Margot’s 70th birthday, something she wasn’t too happy about, and Freda, a wonderfully eccentric character with a penchant for listening, through headphones, to weather forecasts on the radio, endeavouring to finish a rather risqué ‘Full Monty’ jigsaw puzzle, and a tendency to talk to ghosts, one in particular whom she calls Vincent. This was a wonderful performance by Mary Woolf as Freda, who was rather vague (in the role), really happy in her retirement, tolerated by other residents who seem to have accepted her ‘psychic’ powers. She delivered her dialogue with great clarity and style with just the right timing. As Margot, Carole Baynes seemed to be slightly OTT. I really felt, having been a classical actress that she would have been more sophisticated, not waving her arms about so much, breaking into a song and dance routine, but should have behaved generally with more decorum. As a 70 year old retired actress, it would possibly have been more correct for her to wear either a well-made dress or perhaps trousers, and not jeans. However, her delivery of dialogue, the witticisms, sarcastic remarks and certainly various expletives were funny and said with very good timing. Because of her ‘language’, a swear box had been placed on a table expressively for the purpose of fining her each time she was profane (which was often). Kim Wedler as Mrs. Kidd, the administrator was sympathetic, calm and firm, understanding the eccentricities of the residents, and remaining (reasonably) calm throughout. A nice controlled performance. Freda and Mrs. Kidd try to prevent Margot from reading an article in the paper about her ex-husband Sir Leo Buchanan and his success in his latest film “Sheriff of the Universe”. However Margot does see the report but dismisses it, as she has very little time for her ‘ex’. As a young budding actress, Sadie Croft comes to see Margot to ask her for some advice on playing Juliet, a role in which Margot had triumphed some years ago. Lotti Rebello started off by being rather gauche as Sadie, but improved as the play progressed. Her dialogue was spoken rather quietly with not much expression and she must make certain (in future) that her arm movements are much more fluid. There was a tendency for her to keep her upper arms close to her body and not extended when making gestures. I believe this was Lottie’s first major role, and I am sure that with more experience and with the right direction she will become a useful acting member of the company. Although Sadie is introduced as a ‘friend’ of Sir Leo, it transpires she was having a ‘fling’ with the actor and was hoping he would leave his wife and set up home with her. In the event of this not happening, Sadie had in her possession incriminating photographs and letters that she would hand over either to a friend who worked for ‘Hello’ magazine, or give them to a nosy reporter, Graham Latimer, who had been hanging around outside the retirement home hoping to pick up some gossip about the Buchanan family.
Further uninvited guests arrive with the appearance of Sir Leo and his ‘current’ wife Lady Judy. Lorna Squires, as Lady Buchanan, was not quite the aristocrat I felt she should have been. Her exchanges with Margot did not have the bite they should have had, each trying to outdo the other in rather veiled insults. Lorna’s dialogue also started off quite quietly although there was a great improvement as the play progressed. There was a delightful moment when Margot, having been offered a birthday card from Lady Judy, unceremoniously throws it, unopened, into the waste paper basket. For some reason,Bill Baynes (consummate actor though he is) the character of Sir Leo Buchanan did not quite hit the mark. I didn’t think he felt quite at home in the role. His posh accent wavered somewhat and although his dialogue was (as always) excellent, in so far as he projected well, the characterization did not quite come off. His scenes with Margot were fine and he did show he still felt great affection for her, but I felt something (undefined) in his performance was missing. The row that erupts when Margot and Lady Judy find that Sadie is hoping to marry Sir Leo, and the threats she has made about exposing the ‘affair’ to the press, causes great consternation. During this confusion in rushed Arabo Shahenian dressed in a padded Superman costume who tore around the stage trying to kiss everyone. This was an hilarious performance by Arabo, although who had invited the kiss-o-gram was not made quite clear. During this entire fracas, Sir Leo collapses and in spite of Mrs. Kidd’s efforts in trying to resuscitate him, dies.
The second act starts where the first act ended with Sir Leo’s body lying on the floor (not quite in the same position it was in at the end of the previous act) surrounded by the rest of the cast with Mrs. Kidd still trying to revive him – all to no avail. Dressed in white and now a ghost, Sir Leo enters wondering what exactly was happening. Freda, who of course can see and hear him, finally persuades him that he is no longer ‘among the living’ and that he is now a ghost. The cast depart leaving Freda, Margot and the Ghost of Sir Leo. Freda persuades Margot that Leo is present and there follows a very funny scene with Margot having a conversation with Leo and receiving his answers through Freda. Of course Margot invariably is looking in the wrong direction. Being a ghost actually suits Sir Leo, as he is able to attack George Latimer, the journalist, without being seen. Lady Buchanan persuades Margot to retrieve the birthday card that had been discarded and on opening it finds a cheque for £65000, being the amount paid for the Augustus John portrait of the young Margot sold by Leo. Margot and Lady B. join forces and persuade Sadie to accept the painting in exchange for the photographs and letters. Margot takes them out to a shed in the garden and with a generous amount of paraffin sets them alight. Unfortunately through an overuse of the paraffin, Margot loses her life and, lo and behold, she re-enters the lounge dressed in white. She and Leo are re-united and Freda, who of course can see them both, persuades Margot to endorse the cheque that will help her clear all her debts, and all ends happily.
Paul Williams doubled up as Robin Graham Latimer and Robin, although I wasn’t aware that either character is seen or heard in the play, although I assume they were the stretcher-bearers who carried off the lifeless form of Sir Leo. And I’m not sure who Francis was although apparently be was played by Bill Rebello.
The performance suffered somewhat from a lack of pace, so important in comedy, and some of the dialogue between the characters was a bit ‘cosy’ with a certain lack of projection, which meant that some funny lines were missed by the audience, and there was a tendency of cutting into dialogue before the speaker had finished his/her sentence. Bringing in more up-to-date references of shows on TV was quite a good idea. However the most outstanding thing about this production was the magnificent set. It was certainly one of the best sets this company has produced and I do congratulate the designers, Bill Baynes (who was also the Producer), and Bill Rebello for its construction as well as being Stage Manager; Amy Caulfield was the ASM; Sound and Lighting by Clare Hamilton; Costumes Ann Sutherland & Cast; Prompts shared by Frankie Hogan and Saiyada Smith. The direction was by Rob Smith who also designed the excellent and informative programme. Because the tabs were not closed at the end of the play, stage crew should not have appeared on stage whilst there were still members of the audience in the auditorium. I trust this was not repeated during the rest of the run.
Finally my thanks go to Frankie Hogan who, as always, looked after us during the interval.
Further uninvited guests arrive with the appearance of Sir Leo and his ‘current’ wife Lady Judy. Lorna Squires, as Lady Buchanan, was not quite the aristocrat I felt she should have been. Her exchanges with Margot did not have the bite they should have had, each trying to outdo the other in rather veiled insults. Lorna’s dialogue also started off quite quietly although there was a great improvement as the play progressed. There was a delightful moment when Margot, having been offered a birthday card from Lady Judy, unceremoniously throws it, unopened, into the waste paper basket. For some reason,Bill Baynes (consummate actor though he is) the character of Sir Leo Buchanan did not quite hit the mark. I didn’t think he felt quite at home in the role. His posh accent wavered somewhat and although his dialogue was (as always) excellent, in so far as he projected well, the characterization did not quite come off. His scenes with Margot were fine and he did show he still felt great affection for her, but I felt something (undefined) in his performance was missing. The row that erupts when Margot and Lady Judy find that Sadie is hoping to marry Sir Leo, and the threats she has made about exposing the ‘affair’ to the press, causes great consternation. During this confusion in rushed Arabo Shahenian dressed in a padded Superman costume who tore around the stage trying to kiss everyone. This was an hilarious performance by Arabo, although who had invited the kiss-o-gram was not made quite clear. During this entire fracas, Sir Leo collapses and in spite of Mrs. Kidd’s efforts in trying to resuscitate him, dies.
The second act starts where the first act ended with Sir Leo’s body lying on the floor (not quite in the same position it was in at the end of the previous act) surrounded by the rest of the cast with Mrs. Kidd still trying to revive him – all to no avail. Dressed in white and now a ghost, Sir Leo enters wondering what exactly was happening. Freda, who of course can see and hear him, finally persuades him that he is no longer ‘among the living’ and that he is now a ghost. The cast depart leaving Freda, Margot and the Ghost of Sir Leo. Freda persuades Margot that Leo is present and there follows a very funny scene with Margot having a conversation with Leo and receiving his answers through Freda. Of course Margot invariably is looking in the wrong direction. Being a ghost actually suits Sir Leo, as he is able to attack George Latimer, the journalist, without being seen. Lady Buchanan persuades Margot to retrieve the birthday card that had been discarded and on opening it finds a cheque for £65000, being the amount paid for the Augustus John portrait of the young Margot sold by Leo. Margot and Lady B. join forces and persuade Sadie to accept the painting in exchange for the photographs and letters. Margot takes them out to a shed in the garden and with a generous amount of paraffin sets them alight. Unfortunately through an overuse of the paraffin, Margot loses her life and, lo and behold, she re-enters the lounge dressed in white. She and Leo are re-united and Freda, who of course can see them both, persuades Margot to endorse the cheque that will help her clear all her debts, and all ends happily.
Paul Williams doubled up as Robin Graham Latimer and Robin, although I wasn’t aware that either character is seen or heard in the play, although I assume they were the stretcher-bearers who carried off the lifeless form of Sir Leo. And I’m not sure who Francis was although apparently be was played by Bill Rebello.
The performance suffered somewhat from a lack of pace, so important in comedy, and some of the dialogue between the characters was a bit ‘cosy’ with a certain lack of projection, which meant that some funny lines were missed by the audience, and there was a tendency of cutting into dialogue before the speaker had finished his/her sentence. Bringing in more up-to-date references of shows on TV was quite a good idea. However the most outstanding thing about this production was the magnificent set. It was certainly one of the best sets this company has produced and I do congratulate the designers, Bill Baynes (who was also the Producer), and Bill Rebello for its construction as well as being Stage Manager; Amy Caulfield was the ASM; Sound and Lighting by Clare Hamilton; Costumes Ann Sutherland & Cast; Prompts shared by Frankie Hogan and Saiyada Smith. The direction was by Rob Smith who also designed the excellent and informative programme. Because the tabs were not closed at the end of the play, stage crew should not have appeared on stage whilst there were still members of the audience in the auditorium. I trust this was not repeated during the rest of the run.
Finally my thanks go to Frankie Hogan who, as always, looked after us during the interval.
