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Launceston Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of Round and Round the Garden received deserving applause from their audiences last week. The comedy, by Alan Ayckbourn, was challenging to the Director, Alan Pollard and cast, there being only six characters in the play, with long periods of dialogue between two actors.
The main character Norman, played admirably by Brian Donahue, was portrayed as a lovable person, too much so, wanting to make “happy” all three female characters in the cast – even telling his brother- in- law he loved him, though in fairness this was probably attributed to his mother in law’s home made parsnip wine!!!!
It all started off with Norman arriving to take Annie, his sister in law, played by Hilary Whale, away for a weekend to East Grinstead. Annie fell for his charm because  she was looking for excitement and love, living a humdrum life caring for her bedridden mother. Annie gets cold feet after the arrival of Annie’s brother Reg, played by Doug Vanstone and his wife Sarah, played by Liz Eagle. Snooty Sarah was all smiles when Annie’s weekend of passion was called off - could there be a hint of jealously here? Why should Annie benefit from Norman’s charismatic approach, when she herself was in need of a little passion in her life, in the form of Norman?
Photo: Left to right. Hilary Whale (Annie), Brian Donahue (Norman), Doug Vanstone (Reg), Liz Eagle (Sarah), Jon Addicott (Tom), Patricia Minett (Ruth).
Norman’s long suffering wife Ruth, played by Patricia Minett, arrives on the scene in an attempt to sort Norman’s arduous escapades out.
Tom, played by Jon Addicott, cares deeply for Annie, and calls round daily on the pretence of caring for the family cat. His limp character is totally unable to communicate his true feelings for her. Ruth attempts to arouse Tom’s true feelings for Annie by trying to arouse his emotions. Typically Tom gets it all wrong and thinks Ruth is holding torrid passionate feelings for him.
This entire love tangle takes part Round and Round the Garden.
Backstage staff were: Set design and construction - Alan Minett, Lighting and Sound – David Shrimpton, Producer – Andrew Bird, Stage Manager – Sheila Brown, Properties – Joy Hancock, Makeup – Joan Blackmore, Publicity – Fred Parker, Costume – Margaret Parker, Front of House Manager – Margaret Parker and assistants - Members of the Society, including Youth Theatre Group.
A contribution was made to St. Johns Ambulance from programme sales of £60.
LADS are not stopping here, rehearsals are commencing for Our Day Out, the next production in January and auditions are taking place for Allo Allo to be produced in the Spring. A special touch to the programme was a letter to the Society from Sir Alan Ayckbourn sending his best wishes to the Cast, Director, Technicians, The Staff and last but by no means least to the Audience.
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