NORTH ESSEX THEATRE GUILD FULL LENGTH FESTIVAL 2024-5
NAME OF GROUP: Dovercourt Theatre Group
PRODUCTION: Caught in the Net
AUTHOR Ray Cooney
DIRECTOR Rob Porter
ADJUDICATOR: John Sanders assisted by Lesley Brennan
DATE: 23rd April 2026
VENUE: The Studio, Dovercourt

I know the play well and was looking forward to seeing the Dovercourt interpretation.

I like the intimate feel to the studio. There is always a friendly welcome from front of house and we were made to feel very welcome A good raffle was staged in an engaging and efficient way entirely in keeping with this quirky venue. The very useful introduction to the play gave us good background and information. The programmes were functional and easy to read. Tickets were very reasonable at £10.

The set made good use of the space available and worked well. I never got the hang of what doors went where or in what house but it all seemed to work well and was very sturdy, as it needed to be. We particularly liked the red bucket chairs. Perhaps, differentiating the two halved of the sofa might have helped our understanding of the location of the action.

The whole width of the stage was well lit and we thought that the raising of the lights at the beginning of each act gave a great transition from front of house to stage. The phones have an important part to play in this production and I think would have been more powerful if the rings came clearly from each phone rather than through a general sound system.

The costumes were appropriate, colourful and interesting. Mary’s makeup in the final scene was a bit wild

The farce comes with a good pedigree having been written by Ray Cooney and following on from his enjoyable earlier play, 'Run for your Wife'. The plot seems complicated, repetitive and a bit too frenetic. It is exhausting to watch. It picks up considerably after the interval with the arrival of Dad. For me, the humour was dated This was a good production with some loud out laughs but it seemed to lack the fizz which would have elevated the production. The cast did really well with lines, entrances and projection. Movement was good and entrances sharp. The cast handled the activities related to opening and shutting doors really well. The play got off to a slow and nervous start but confidence was up by the end with a particularly well played reveal by the two wives of John Smith.

Greg looked the part and worked extremely hard. He had good physical movement and made good use of his eyes. Not surprisingly the words often seemed a little garbled, such was the pace of the action. He could, ,perhaps , have varied his pace and reaction as each episode unfolded. It was hard to imagine this guy running two wives over a long period of time and not being caught out. This was an enjoyable performance from this excellent actor but we both felt that he was holding a bit back’. His diction was excellent. Surprisingly. I felt for him as his subterfuge was unmasked. Katherine did very well with this role. She manged her many entrances through the various doors with good timing and her facial expressions were a joy as she saw all the weird activities happening in her house. She was particularly good when John Smith was revealed as a bigamist and her sordid past uncovered. Well done Barbara lacked a bit of confidence at the start. However, this seemed to return as the play progressed. I felt the part could have had more characterisation, perhaps she could have been a bit more brassy or obviously South London. Like the rest of the cast, it was a very competent performance A sparky interesting performance. His pace was in stark contrast to the other men on stage. He had good timing and he showed us innocence and incredulity in his portrayal. He seemed to spend most of his time upstage of the sofa. Did well keeping his patience at being sent to differing coffee shops. His scenes with Stanley were a highlight of his performance Katie had good stage presence and played the part well.. She played Vickie as a very sensible, solid young lady who would not be moved from her thwarted relationship with Gavin, by any machinations of her parents A characterisation much enjoyed by the audience. The action improved when Dad was on stage. I am about the age of Dad and neither I nor my friends have walked as if we had just been on a long ride astride an elephant. The beard and white hair helped portray this jovial, irascible character

My colleagues and I had good evening’s entertainment at this intriguing venue watching a funny farce, well presented and performed.

Caught In The Net by Ray Cooney
Director Rob Porter .
Stage Design Simon Reader.

Performed at the Dovercourt Theatre Group Studio on Wednesday 22nd April at 7.30pm.

I was warmly welcomed on arrival by Margaret Coleman and Chrissie Donegan and was able to discuss the performance at the end with Director Rob Porter and the cast.

This play was the sequel to Run For Your Wife and was placed eighteen years afterwards. I was very intrigued to see how the society would create a set to accommodate two households on this very small stage. Simon Reader designed a simple and brilliant set which worked extremely well. It consisted of a bland back 'wall', seven doors all of which opened, a staircase and two telephones. A 'common' lounge area was used by both households requiring characters to often cross each other on stage adding to the general confusion and comedy. Every inch of space on the stage was used. Lighting was appropriate and voice projection by the cast was excellent Every actor could be heard clearly. There were a few sound effects all well timed. Costumes were relevant to the period and the characters.

This was a superb 'farce' sparkling with fun, laughter and great, almost slapstick style comedy. The casting was perfect with everyone playing to their strengths and the standard of acting by everyone was first class. Split second timing was essential to maintain momentum and the production was fast moving, frantic sometimes! All the actors were well rehearsed and there were no 'weak' areas detected.

Richard Kemp-Luck was the two timing bigamist, John, with an over the top and sometime 'athletic' performance whilst trying to balance his two marriages. Richard had some vivid facial expressions especially when in panic mode. So difficult to keep his two families apart! Well played!

It was great to see Greg McDowell, as the lodger Stanley, in his first major role with the society. This was a superb part for Greg as he created so many cover ups, misinformation and farcical situations whilst attempting to hide the bigamist's truth! Greg was energetic and quick thinking and caused so much hilarity with his hapless ways and wonderful facial expressions and actions. The audience loved him!

Katherine Johnson was Mary, one of the wives. Her timing was impeccable and she managed to show her anger and disgust at John's antics. Barbara, the second wife was rather flirty and somewhat ethereal and was played by Sara Talbot-Ashby.

John's son and daughter, by different wives were well matched and were basically the reason John's bigamy was uncovered. Having met on the internet they discovered so many similarities between their respective fathers that it was too much of a coincidence. Jake Clover was Gavin, a rather earnest young man, and Katie Wallace was Vicki, bubbly and vivacious.

Stanley's Dad was played by new society member Dean Miles and although the part was small Dean made such an impact! He was an absolute delight adding considerably to the comedy with constant misunderstandings and confusions, his daft antics and slightly mad behaviour! He was knocked to the floor several times and bounced back with so much energy. Very well played and an excellent addition to the society.

All considered this was a total farcical evening with so much laughter and comedy from this society. I congratulate Director Rob Porter on such a superb production. The audience loved it.

Hazel Hole MBE
Regional Representative
NODA East
District 11