BELLA BARTOCK stepped out in the south of the borough yesterday for the first night of the hard-working local amdram’s latest production
Sanderstead’s French farce was first translated into English for Su Pollard and Simon Cadell. Photo by Gordon Drayson
There is a convivial atmosphere at the Sanderstead Dramatic Club’s French farce Don’t Dress for Dinner. Even if you don’t dress for the occasion at the Sanderstead Memorial Hall, you might bring your dinner to enjoy on the tables set out for the audience.
Marc Camoletti’s Paris-staged success was redrafted for the London stage in the early 1990s for the likes of Su Pollard and Simon Cadell, after their Hi De Hi! success on television.
The translation retained its French story line and its very quick immersion into the exquisite confusions of deceit and convoluted lies upon lies that result from such farce.
This all makes for a very good laugh at this local performance, which runs until Saturday.
It was not easy for the pace and headlong momentum required by this piece to be maintained, though lines were only forgotten twice.
It was hard to identify anything French about the set or the performance. It felt more like south-east London.
Caitlin Parchment brought gusto to her performance, while Louise Wilkinson was clever in her studied unhappiness in Don’t Dress For Dinner. Photo by Gordon Drayson
Dave Sawyer as Bernard is certainly no Jean Sorel. The age gaps among the company are a challenge for the performance.
Caitlin Parchment as Suzette brought the most gusto to her performance, raising the strongest laughs in the audience. Louise Wilkinson was clever in her studied unhappiness as the much inconvenienced mistress.
The production is supported by Croydon Council.
For details of how to book tickets, click here
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