Review

Cause Célèbre

The Country Neighbour

Terence Rattigan’s last play, based on the actual trial of Alma Rattenbury and her teenage lover for the murder of her third husband in 1935 was an excellent choice for the Basildonians, not only because 2011 is the centenary year of Rattigan’s birth, but also because the play has a large cast, offering more opportunities than usual for this society’s talented members to shine. It is rather long, but even on the first night Nick Brazil’s production was confident and fluent, and held the attention to the end, through to the sad little coda of Rattenbury’s eventual suicide.

Most of the performances were proficient and convincing: Sue Thorowgood and Nicola Stilwell coped well with their rather unsympathetic roles as buttoned-up Edith Davenport and her shallow sister Stella Morrison; the various legal professionals inhabited their robes and uniforms well – Rhys Hamilton in particular providing an amusing (though not always completely audible) characterisation of defence barrister O’Connor; and Philip Church was called upon to demonstrate a range of emotions in the difficult part of Rattenbury’s teenaged chauffeur/lover.

There were also actors - some in roles which offered greater scope to impress - who were a delight to watch: Liz Reed gave an assured interpretation of Alma’s complex, charming but flawed personality; Adam Nightingale was brave and surprisingly believable as confused and vulnerable 17 year old Tony Davenport; Sandra Wilkinson managed Warder Joan Webster’s sudden change of heart with great skill; and Chris Hawson, in just a few lines, gave us a fine, crusty Francis Rattenbury. This is the second consecutive time he has been called upon to die on stage for the Basildonians, a turn which is becoming his speciality.

All in all, congratulations are due to the Director, cast and backstage team for another excellent Basildonians production.

Kate Morgan