This is what our
audiences said about The Dresser
These quotes have been
taken from letters, emails and texts we have received following
recent performances
“exquisite
performances”
“The set was perfect and the lighting and technical support so-o
professional”
“marvellous production”
RR - Hitchin
“I wonder what you come up with in future to top this production”
“the performances were superb”
“a really memorable theatrical experience, one I will always remember”
ME - Letchworth
“acting is excellent”
“attention to detail really comes through”
J&PP - Hitchin
“excellent play, Elliott and Charles excelled themselves”
JS - Shillington
"one of the
most powerful performances we have seen on the professional or the am
dram stage"
P&M via
email
What Roy Hall had to say!
Elliott Lawrence was absolutely outstanding in
the title role. He rarely put a foot wrong in manner, movement, or
voice. This was a quintessential, deftly precise, Norman who
combined a deep love for his irascible actor manager with beautifully
controlled irritation at all the latter's foibles and weaknesses. He
delivered the part with a deceptive lightness of touch and in his
final, harrowing, scene he expertly conveyed a realistic manifestation
of personal grief. A performance to savour.
Charles Plester almost matched him as
the overpowering 'Sir' and his transformation to his King Lear was a
piece of rivetingly staged theatre. I may have wished for more variety
of tone to underpin the bombastic stage persona but Mr Plester's
performance was always compelling.
On a superb backstage theatrical set
which cleverly created space and atmosphere all the cast played their
part, and Sally Hull deserves singling out for her portrayal of the
long suffering partner of the insufferable star. A subtle performance
which never attempted to compete with the sparks of Ronald Harwood's
theatrical fireworks and was all the better for it.
Nicki Popes astute staging and
direction did the rest and all combined with style and verve for the
famous King Lear storm scene. Add in Al Bowlly's wartime voice to
place the setting and this is one old, ex critic, who was well
pleased. A superb evening at the Rep.
What Nova Horley had to say!
This collaboration between bigredfunbus
and Dunstable REP was an amazing production, directed by
Nicki Pope. However, without wishing to be controversial, I would
have liked to have seen more Rep stalwarts involved.
I am always looking for excellence at
the Rep as I feel this is what they and bigredfunbus aspire to, and
let's be honest what we expect from them. But this exceeded anything
else I have seen for a long time.
I was enthralled from start to finish.
In fact, I had my pen poised as usual, but never actually used it as I
didn't want to miss anything. I was a little unsure about Charles
Plester as 'Sir' on his first entrance, but as he transformed into
the larger than life actor playing King Lear, his character grew and
implanted itself truly into the play. Elliott Lawrence as
Norman - the dresser of the title - was never short of brilliant, from
the first to the last (very emotional) word. It was such a pleasure to
watch this young man giving depth and breath to a character.
The pace and vitality I long to see
leaping off the stage and engulfing an audience was wholly evident in
this piece. No-one let it down. The set was extremely convincing and
managed to encompass its three facets, without using scene changes,
which kept the action going, all the props, costumes etcs seemed to be
completely right.
Sally Hull was a good 'Her
Ladyship' giving just the right amount of caring in her relationship
with Sir, while maintaining that slight waspishness borne of
familiarity with his frailties, real or imaginary. I like Helen
Balfe's portrayal of 'Madge', the stage manager who has long been
in love with Sir, but not really appreciated by him. Her acceptance of
her lot in life came across really well. Zara Schafer as Irene,
Madge's assistant, and scheming to encourage Sir's attention to
progress her career; showed her understanding of the part.
The lighting was well designed to give
us a feel of how it might have been in a provincial theatre during the
war, and only served to enhance the action.
Peter Carter-Brown played the
embittered Mr Oxenby very well, forced to stay at home and take minor
acting parts because of a bad leg. His frustrations showed in
everything he did. Ralph Gough was suitably restrained and
rather doddery as Mr Thornton the older actor, only getting parts
because there was no-one else to do them, and needing Sir's
reassurance that he was coping with it all.
The balance between the different
characters was excellent and everyone maintained their characters
throughout this very strong play, which calls for very strong actors
and that is what was achieved. I was mightily by the whole cast but
Elliott Lawrence stood out for me as a shining example of an
actor's commitment to his part and the play.
An uplifting and absorbing evening -
many congratulations to all involved.
