| The gentle nuances and understated ironies of Alan Bennet can't
fail. And Harrogate Dramatic Society played it to the hilt in the
current production of "The Old Country", resulting in an
effective, thought provoking peice of drama. Bennett's plays are superb in characterisation and Clarence Eaglen, who plays the main role gave a relaxed performance. He must have put ina lot of hard work to capture the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of this wide-eyed and intelectual man, not to mention wonderful timing, which were consistent throughout the two acts. And Angela Simpson, as wife Bron, was equally confident in her supporting role. Jane Keogh was perfect as the slightly snobish sister Veronica, and a special mention must go to Alex Reevey who played her husband, Duff. He was smooth, silver tongued and confident and played the part with real conviction. It's impossible to go into details of the plot without revealing the inevitable sting in the tail, and it would be a shame to spoil it for those who plan to catch this production later this week. But, suffice it to say that almost every aspect of this production was professional, down to the detailed and charming set. |
