Sleighed to Death
Directed by Maree Noons
Adjudicated by Amanda Powell, assisted by Keith Cummings
15/12/2023

As always, a lovely warm and efficient welcome from the FOH team and the programme was fitting. It had all the information required, and I loved the nod to the magic show with playing cards down the side of the programme.

The stage was wonderfully festive, with a beautifully decorated tree. All the furniture was well arranged and very in keeping with the era. The whole set looked inviting and realistic; I especially liked the multitude of framed pictures on the walls.

The lighting was lit well throughout with no patchy spots and excellent timing when the actors turned on lights etc. Nice seasonal music used.

I feel the script rather let you and your cast down. While the jokes/gags/double entendre were initially very funny, by the middle of the second act they were so overused that it wasn’t as amusing, and the audiences' brains were having to work overtime to work out what the Sergeant was actually trying to say. There were sections of script that could have used a trim.
Having said all this I was pleased to see that it was very well directed, with good use of blocking, tableaux, and general staging. I loved the ferret in the fireplace, so funny!
Unfortunately, the cue bites and pacing were slow throughout making this play run for longer than was needed.

A good choice of costumes that were all in keeping with the era. I especially liked all of Emma costumes. I also loved the vibrant green trousers!
Props were excellent. Margaret Coleman & Chrissie Donegan gave good attention to detail, with things like the correct style of cigarette lighter on the table to the glassware etc.

A good interpretation of a stereotypical, slightly pompous and annoying aristocrat, Rob's portrayal reminded me a little of the Majors and Country Manor Owners that Michael Green wrote into some of his 'Art of Coarse Acting' short plays, like 'Trapped' & 'Streuth'.
A good actor who is enjoyable to watch, well played! A strong and confident performance from Sara, who's cue bites were nice and quick. Sara has a lovely natural acting quality that makes her very enjoyable to watch, she both acts and re-acts throughout a performance and uses lots of light and shade in her voice making her great to listen to.
The Scottish accent was a triumph. Well done Sara! A nice portrayal of a woman who chose and got stuck in a loveless marriage just so she could have the comforts in life. Take care not to shout when acting as this not only hinders your diction but stops you being able to naturally convey the characters meaning. Instead use pacing and inflections/light and shade in your voice to help convey this. A lovely performance from Katherine, who very clearly conveyed her character from the moment she stepped on stage. I really liked her facial expressions and I found it most amusing every time she wined to her Daddy when she didn't get her way. Just keep a check on cue bites and pacing. A nice steady performance from Chris, I very much liked your performance in the scene you shared with Grace. Pick up the speed on your queue bites and try to avoid using too many hand gestures when speaking. Not an easy role to tackle, but Jordan immediately convinced us that he wasn’t going to be the world’s best copper, and definitely not a magician! A strong and enjoyable performance with excellent diction. A massive well done on getting ALL those incorrect words correct! A gentle and natural performance from Liz. Constable Potter was definitely the brains of the operation, but how on earth did she manage to put up with Sergeant Pratt?! Lovely use of facial expressions throughout, I do like to see an actor ‘re-acting’ to what's going on around them. Again, take care with your cue bites and pacing. A very expressive performance that I greatly enjoyed. Richard’s comic timing was strong, and don’t you believe that rotten Morag, your Australian accent was marvellous!

A good effort from the Director, cast and crew. The FOH team were very hospitable and efficient. Lighting and Sound was good throughout as was the costuming. The staging was excellent and the directors blocking, and direction was of a good standard. The only weak points were the script and slow cue bites/pacing.
Thank you Dovercourt Theatre Group for a most enjoyable evening.

Best Wishes
Amanda Powell (Adjudicator)

Sleighed To Death written by Peter Gordon

Director Marie Noons
Producer Chrissie Donegan

Performed at Dovercourt Theatre Group Studio, Dovercourt on Wednesday 13th December 2023, at 7.30pm.

I was welcomed on arrival by Chrissie Donegan and Linda Potter at Front of House. I never cease to be impressed by the sets designed and built by this society considering the very small stage area and this set was no exception. The action took place in the sitting room of a country house on Christmas Eve which was beautifully decorated with Christmas cards and decorations and a substantial Christmas tree. There was a sideboard, a chaise longue and a realistic log fire in the fireplace, dado rails and a hanging bed warmer and a lovely central exit to "the garden". Lighting and sound effects and levels were both very appropriate and costumes were all very relevant for the period ie 1930s. Stage Manager, Greg McDowell was kept busy moving props on and off very slickly.

Sergeant Pratt lived up to his name and Jordan Brown played this part very convincingly. His diction and characterisation of this bumbling and inept character constantly muddling his words (malapropism) and his failed magical tricks contributed greatly to the humour in the play and this was an excellent performance by Jordan. Jordan's sidekick, Liz Mcleod as Constable Potter dressed as an angel throughout was a good foil to Jordan providing pragmatic and common sense solutions to the constant dilemmas.

Rob Porter, as Sir Walton Gates was well cast as the portly chortling aristocrat, trying to ease family tensions and this was a stellar performance from Rob. Gemma Holman-Quinn was a strong and bitchy Grace Gates, second wife of Sir Walton whilst Katherine Johnson was Emma Gates, the daughter of Sir Walton. Neurotic and demanding in this role, Katherine threw a fantastic tantrum on stage.

I loved the character of Archie Gates, the mischief making estranged brother, well played by Richard Kemp-Luck. Was his Australian accent real or rather dodgy? A very convincing interpretation by Richard. The role of James Washington, an amorous lothario and boyfriend of Emma was well acted by Chris Holman.. Chris was dashing, suave and persuasive in this role.

Sara Talbot-Ashby played the very dour Secretary to Sir Walton, Morag Mckay. Some of her facial expressions were hilarious as she visibly disapproved of the chaos erupting on stage.

This was a very fast moving comedy thriller with a first rate performance from the entire cast. I enjoyed this production very much as did the audience.

Congratulations to everyone involved and particularly Director Maree Noons and producer Chrissie Donegan . Another excellent production by this small but talented society.

Hazel Hole MBE
Regional Representative
NODA East
District 11

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