Presented as part of Thornhill Theatre Space International Online Fringe Festival, this 20 minute radio play from the pen of Christine Balmer shows us a slice of jealousy and rivalry in the stereotypical English country village fair.
Presented as two monologues, the play first encounters Pamela Lumsden (Phyllis Logan), at the 'Best Of Show' Baking competition in the village of St. Winifred's In The Bush. One could easily imagine a television version of this scenario where a Penelope Keith styled actress takes this role. Quintessentially English, but a complete busy-body do-gooder and is the head of every committee in the village, and of course her cakes are always the best! Except on this occasion, her cake has been judged to have a saggy bottom!
Cut to the second monologue and we meet the vicar of the church, Julian Fanthorpe (Kevin Morris). On the surface he is the true village vicar, but we soon see that there is a more malevolent side to his character too which intrigues. Could he possibly be the saboteur of Lumsden's winning cake?
Sadly the play ends just as it is starting to become interesting. The vast majority of the play is exposition and scene-setting, and we eagerly anticipate a further epsiode or two in which we see more of the village characters and I feel a TV sit-com coming on...! What we are given is tantalising and clever, with good use of the very British double-entendre for good measure! But the play as it is, is sadly unsatisfying and unfinished. However if that were episode 1, then I eagerly look forward to further episodes.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 5/9/20
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