Poster Design © L.A.Conyers

The first of his "time plays".
A young successful and beautiful group of friends and colleagues are having a dinner party. Then a cigarette box and an ill-considered remark spark off a relentless series of revelations - and other more dangerous secrets are painfully exposed. The truth spills out; if they persue this route will it lead to disaster? Or by taking another route, can the dangerous corner be avoided?

Performance Dates:
Wednesday 9th, to Saturday 12th October 2002
Evenings at 7:45 pm
Saturday Matinee at 2:30 pm

Drama mirrors life on night of revelations (Harrogate Advertiser 11/10/02)

Real life dramas of former government ministers bring an extra layer of topicality to J.B. Priestley’s first play, revived in superb style by Harrogate Dramatic Society.
As the characters on the stage face up to a complex web on conceit and self delusion, the modernity of their predicament serves to add to the edge-of-the-seat impact created by Brian Foster’s taut production.
Careful editing and sensitive changes to some of the outdated expressions in the original text make the 1930s setting a credible feast for eye and ear.
Ian Rattee’s elegant black and white set with its Art Deco lines and images makes a fabulous backdrop to the action.
The telling colour scheme is cleverly carried through in the period evening wear of the well heeled “snug little group” gathered at Robert Caplan’s home for dinner.
As the plot unfolds it appears this flawed set of individuals, tied to each other through a publishing business, blood and social convenience are also inextricably linked to a dead man.
Robert’s bother Martin committed suicide but leaves a legacy of unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
On opening night the possible outcome was the only topic up for discussion at the interval – always a good sign.
Dangerous Corner is a play with a cold heart and the performances capture the brittle nature of the material very well.
Freda Caplan – a woman with an insatiable appetite for unpalatable truths is beautifully judged by Tammie Romatowski and her very stillness under stress serves to make her husband’s impotent and deluded outbursts all the more effective. Lawrence Conyers as the ill-used Robert Caplan finds the right touch with this difficult character.
The cynical Charles Stanton, side-lined as the outsider to the family is cast in another safe pair of hands. Alan Harwood’s flair for bitter recrimination is well used and the slight broadening of the northern accent and subtle change in swagger under pressure is revealing.
Dale Cowen as the deliciously mischievous novelist Maud Mockridge is a newcomer to the group and the Harrogate Theatre space.
Her delightful vocal performance is in danger of being lost at the farthest corners of the auditorium by the glittering turban ensures she has our full attention.
Priestley’s magical ending is perfectly executed to add the extra frisson he intended.
See it, you must.