OLDBURY REP is a unique little theatre tucked away on Spring Walk, Oldbury, where it has been providing a feast of theatre to the local community for some 85 years.
As a seasoned reviewer I get to see productions in the big theatres several nights a week, but I have to say that I found the welcome at Oldbury REP a delightful experience.
From the moment you walk in the door strangers smile and greet you like neighbours, making it impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere before curtain up. Which is quite apt as I was there to review ‘Curtain Up’ – a comedy from the pen of the talented Peter Quilter.
‘Curtain up’ is an ‘ageless’ comedy and a community theatre favourite which has amused audiences now for twenty odd years. It has an all-female cast and much of the wit in the writing never fails to ring bells in thespian ears as ‘we’ve all been there’ situations.
The plot concerns five women who have been left equal shares in a disused old theatre via the will of a prankster called ‘Michael’, who – though deceased – still seems to be enjoying himself from beyond the grave. Four of the ladies were related to him and the fifth was his secretary – what sport to make these unlikely bedfellows work as a team if they want to make a success of their legacy.
The play is set entirely in the inherited theatre, starting in the dusty foyer which is strewn with old newspapers and cluttered with books and abandoned theatrical bric-a-brac. Here we meet Michael’s wallflower daughter Theresa (innocence well captured by Natalie Forbes-Moore) pouring out some ancient cup-a-soup she’s found in a cupboard in the green room for a meeting of the new owners. That includes her Mum and Michael’s divorced first wife Pam (a touch of the ‘hard-done-by-me’ Nora Battie’s from Sue Jones), Michael’s mother Betty (some great granny humour from Samantha Gessey), Michael’s second wife Jackie (a bubbly Rebecca Ward) and finally his punk secretary Sharon (whacky and warm outing from Elisabeth Julian).
After discussing what to do with the theatre, the women decide that rather than sell it they will try and bring it back to life. They try various schemes to raise funds which don’t do much, so they plan a big concert featuring local talent and a freebee star to top the bill. They amazingly manage to get Liza Minnelli, whose poster is still up in the foyer from when she performed at the theatre in its hay day. Sadly, their plans come tumbling down when Minnelli cancels on the night of the concert due to a lost voice. Rather than cancel though they decide to fake it – and that’s where the show turns from a comedy to a full-on farce.
Director Sandra Bird achieves a good overall pace in her production but the bevy of blackouts between scenes slows things down far too much. Much better to have left the lights up and let us enjoy watching the changes – it is after all a play about ‘behind-the-scenes’ in a theatre. Remember – seconds in darkness seems like minutes to an audience.
In addition to playing Theresa, Natalie Forbes-Moore also choreographed the dance sections including a glitzy walkdown which brought a joyous end to the evening.
Oldbury REP used this Gala evening to launch their new season – it looks an exciting programme ahead so if you don’t know it, give this little gem of a theatre with its comfortable auditorium, nice bar and friendly faces a try.
Curtain Up runs at the Oldbury REP until Saturday, May 16. Click here for times, tickets and more information.