by Peter Quilter
Curtain Up! Was one of those productions that reminds you exactly why local theatre is so important. Warm, funny and full of character, it was obvious from the opening scenes that both the cast and audience were thoroughly enjoying themselves — and that feeling carried through the entire evening.
The play follows five women who unexpectedly inherit a struggling theatre and decide to do everything they can to save it. What unfolds is a wonderfully chaotic mix of backstage drama, clashing personalities, unlikely friendships and plenty of laughs as they try to stage a show that might just keep the theatre alive. It’s very much a love letter to theatre people and all their eccentricities, and the Oldbury Rep Players captured that spirit beautifully.
The real strength of the production was the cast. There was such a natural chemistry between the five performers that the relationships felt completely believable. Natalie Forbes-Moore brought warmth and sincerity to Theresa, keeping the heart of the story grounded even as the chaos unfolded around her. Elizabeth Julian was great fun as Sharon, full of energy and comic timing, and Sharon’s bright purple hair was an inspired touch that suited the character perfectly — every time she appeared on stage, the audience seemed to lift with her.
Sue Jones played Pam with just the right mix of frustration and vulnerability — a really nicely judged performance, Sue — while Samantha Gessey clearly relished every moment as Betty, delivering some of the biggest laughs of the evening with confidence and excellent timing. Rebecca Ward completed the group brilliantly as Jackie. I really enjoyed this performance, Rebecca; you found the tone of the character perfectly and brought exactly the right balance of confidence, humour and tension to the role.
There were also some lovely visual comedy moments throughout the show, especially the wonderfully ridiculous teddy bear costume, which managed to get laughs simply by appearing on stage. It summed up the whole tone of the production really — playful, unapologetically theatrical and genuinely good fun.
The staging worked well throughout the evening too. Scene changes were smooth, the pace kept moving, and the production made very good use of the space. Credit should also go to director Sandra Bird for keeping everything flowing naturally while still allowing the quieter character moments time to breathe.
If I had one small criticism, it would probably be the ending. After spending so much time with these characters, the final moments felt slightly sudden. The closing line, “We’ll be back,” hinted that life at the theatre would carry on — and the dance scene did send the audience out smiling — but part of me still wanted something a little more definite. Then again, perhaps that says more about how much I enjoyed the production than anything else. When you leave wanting another ten minutes with the characters, a show has clearly done something right.
Overall, the Oldbury Rep Players delivered a lively, funny and heartfelt production with a strong cast, confident staging and plenty of charm. Curtain Up! felt like a genuine celebration of amateur theatre and the people who work so hard to keep it alive.
Now then… where’s my purple wig?
Reviewed by – David T.
Comments are closed