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The Invitation review by Ellyn Wright October 2024
You can choose your fiancé, but you can’t choose your family
A destination wedding would be paradise for many fiancés – but not this couple. In fact, in the Russell Player’s latest production, wedding planning has been pretty hellish for Eve (Lisa Johnson) and Adam (Henry Finney).
Well, it would be with mother-of-the-bride-zilla Lydia (Lynn Wright). Though, if you ask her, she’s saved this wedding from being a complete disaster.
Eve’s dream dress – well, she’s not got the figure according to Lydia. Red ribbons for the table and chairs – what was Eve thinking?! And her music choices – well those were just all wrong. Frankly, Eve should count herself lucky she’s got such an attentive and involved mother planning it all.
So, when the invitation to their Florida wedding drops through everyone’s letterboxes, it’s clear who’s been calling the shots. Lydia’s sister Steph (Caroline Waterer), who’s as calm as Lydia is controlling, can see right through it, though husband Rob (Andy Witting) wouldn’t say no to a holiday. Especially if it means he can hit the greens while they’re out there!
Steph’s not the only sceptic; Adam’s Uncle Tom (Albi Wright) knows this isn’t the couple’s dream do – what happened to a small ceremony and honeymooning in the Cotswolds? No matter how much his wife Sue (Sheila Partington) wants to fly out for the ceremony, cynical Tom just can’t get onboard with this costly and extravagant affair.
As the wedding date draws nearer, there’s a spanner in the works – a spanner called Wayne. We learn that Cousin Wayne, who was blacklisted for his “unforgiveable” and “unforgettable” behaviour at the last family affair, has booked his flights and literally invited himself along to Adam and Eve’s special day! It’s the last straw for long-suffering Eve, as Adam’s offer to elope becomes even more enticing.
We return after the interval, to find the happy couple are gone. In their place, Lydia finds a note; Adam and Eve have decided to take a break. “How could Eve be so selfish?”, proclaims Lydia, who thinks all her hard work has been for nothing.
But when Eve phones her mum to share some happy news, Lydia won’t let her get a word in edgeways. Surely poor Adam is devasted they’ve broken up just weeks before the big day?! And what about all the random relatives Lydia’s invited, in place of the happy couple’s best friends – they’ll all be disappointed their holiday is ruined!
Once Hurricane Lydia has finally calmed down, Eve can explain how it’s all one big miscommunication. She and Adam have eloped, saying their vows in the small ceremony and are now enjoying a break together in the Cotswolds – not a break from each other.
And when Steph, who’s been drafted in for emotional support, gently suggests a solution that won’t let Lydia’s planning go to waste, everything finally clicks into place. You see, all this time Lydia’s been designing the perfect wedding for herself, not her daughter. So why don’t Lydia and her husband, Richard, renew their vows? They just need to update the names on the invitations, and then everyone gets their happily ever after.
Writer Juliet Devon has devised a clever comedy, full of great banter and irony, and director Deni Smale has truly brought this boisterous, complicated family to life. The evening was made even more superb with the immersive ‘wedding breakfast’ theme of the dinner. Another fantastic production from The Russell Players.
Death By Detective review by Sarah Mapleston - May 2024.
Russell Players once again hosted an entertaining evening consisting of a tasty light supper and a play that captivated the audience’s attention across three nights. ‘Death by Detective (Corpsed by a Copper)’ by David Pemberton was directed by Mitch Mitchell and demonstrated the talents of the Russell Players’ actors and backstage crew.
Clever casting enabled the characters of the play to shine to the best of their ability. Harriet Brush (Sheila Partington), a Doctor of Psychology helped narrate the story together with Donald Bucket (Trish Harris), a detective who would give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money. Alongside these characters, you had Helen Stoner (Lisa Johnston), a young woman in distress who expertly retold the story leading up to her sister’s murder involving seamless costume and scene changes. Hawkins, a newspaper seller, and Bob, a handyman, (Henry Finney) were characters that commanded the stage with their strong accents, stage presence and kept the play moving. Mrs. Dobson and Julia Stoner were both characterised well by Louisa Nozay, especially when Julia met her death and Mrs. Dobson suffered from a fir tree allergy. Dr Grimsby Deadwood was skilfully portrayed by Glyn Marshall who adopted a convincing intimidating persona. His untimely death was celebrated (albeit quietly) by all.
The hard work that had been put into producing this play was evident. The costumes were a delight, the lighting and sound operation and scene changes were excellent throughout. Well done to all involved and to Mitch Mitchell for directing an enjoyable play.
Sarah M
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The Panto Puzzle review by Duncan Hamilton - December 2023
The Panto season came a bit earlier than usual in Swallowfield this year with the Russell Players’ annual offering arriving all wrapped up in brightly decorated boxes just in time for Christmas!
The dynamic duo of Cheeky Charlie and Dame Dolly Mixture literally jumped in and out of three different pantomimes (Robinson Crusoe, Sleeping Beauty and Red Riding Hood) in a desperate hunt to help Cinderella recover her magic pumpkin, glass slippers and white mice, which had been burgled from storage by the wicked Witch, Evilena, played to great effect by the gruesomely demonic Trish Harris.
David Parsonson as the lugubrious and slightly world- weary stage manager had the unenviable task of setting out to the audience the complex scenario, namely, that all the pantos had been boxed up and mothballed on the orders of an all- powerful but anonymous theatrical management. By the end of the first act, most of us had got the idea of what was going on.
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'Mitigating Circumstances' review by Ellyn Wright - July 2023
An entertaining evening was had by those who attended the Russell Players’ latest production the thought provoking, ‘Mitigating Circumstances’ by Juliet Devon. As well as a brilliant performance we were provided with a delicious two course, light supper. All in all, it was a very professional evening’s entertainment.
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'Goldilocks, The Three Bears and The Detectives' review by Duncan and Claire Hamilton - November 2022
The Russell Players’ annual pantomime returned to the Swallowfield stage in great style, in a new pre-Christmas slot. Written by local playwright Juliet Devon, the show puts a new spin on this familiar tale with Goldilocks’ evil guardian and her henchmen framing Goldilocks (the charming but feisty Leah Maskell) for the burglary break-in at the home of the Three Bears, and for stealing their porridge.
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A ‘Collage of Comedy’ review by Andy Witting - June 2022
The Russell Players are back with a bang!
Those of us lucky enough to catch the trio of comedy performances laid on by the Russell Players in mid-June are in no doubt that dramatics are back in Swallowfield and it is far from amateur. The whole machine worked very smoothly entertaining us with first rate acting, lovely stage sets, clever lighting and delightful refreshments. What a talented bunch we have in our midst.
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'Cinderella' review by Duncan Hamilton - February 2020
Take one King desperate to find friends and increase his “Likes” on Facebook, a fitness fanatic Prince obsessed with his Fitbit and how many steps he has taken, add a sassy fairy with attitude, two classic ugly sisters and a hard up Baron. Then mix them all together with those well- loved characters Cinderella and Buttons and you have the perfect recipe for a very entertaining evening of fun and laughter in the Russell Players’ latest seasonal offering.
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The Russell Players are an amateur dramatics group and have been successfully entertaining audiences since 1977. We usually stage three productions a year including a pantomime.
You will find further details of the society on our About Us page. Photographs and reviews of productions can be found in the relevant sections on the Previous Performances page.
We welcome new members who wish to be involved in some or all of the various aspects of amateur dramatics, i.e. acting, directing, stage management, prompting, costumes, sourcing props or front of house. If you are interested please contact us via email. The email address can be found on our Contacts page.