AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof - Bolton Little Theatre, Bolton.

It was great to return to this well respected local venue after such a long hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. BLT, as it is affectionately known, has staged continuously high quality productions over many years. It has two performance spaces – the main stage and the intimate Forge studio – and a very pleasant bar area. It was very good to note that the building has undergone a significant internal refurbishment since my last visit. I am pleased to report that I received a hearty welcome from the Front Of House Manager, who was most helpful.

Despite the fact that this play is so famous, it was the first time I've ever seen it performed and I wasn't disappointed. The action is set entirely in the bedroom occupied by Maggie (Lindsay Farnworth) and her husband Brick (Adam Green). Maggie is the 'cat' referred to in the title and the phrase is quoted a few times during the drama, based in the deep South of America. It is not easy to stay true to the accents required for this play and generally the cast did very well in this aspect.

The opening scene sees Brick in the shower; it's only when the water stops that you find out he has a plaster cast on one foot due to a broken ankle; he uses a crutch to get around the room. The set design was quite effective including a drinks cabinet, a chaise-longue, the aforementioned shower, a clothes rail, a chair and a double bed. Personally, I would have placed the bed in a more prominent position than in the middle at the back of the stage but this is a minor criticism. The most ingenious part of the set design was a large audio-visual screen; this was used to display photographs when Brick and Maggie reminisced over his exploits as an American football player. Additionally, the screen showed images of fireworks and the moon.

In a tour-de-force performance, Maggie launches into an extraordinarily long diatribe, which is virtually a monologue with only occasional quips from Brick; he is far more interested in drinking copious amounts of whisky. Her intentions are clear when she undresses down to her silk petticoat but Brick's attention is obviously elsewhere. She colourfully describes the 65th birthday party taking place downstairs of her father-in-law 'Big Daddy' (Peter Schofield) and it's only much later on in Act 1 that we meet him and his wife, 'Big Momma', (Nora Howcroft); she is small in stature but nevertheless fierce and loyal to her husband of 40 years.

We learn of Brick's sadness over the death of his close friend Skipper and it is implied that this is why he is drinking so much. Brick's brother, successful lawyer Gooper (Jim Smith), is married to Mae (Julie Burrell); they live next door and already have five children. When we meet Mae, who is pregnant again, we see her snooping on Maggie and Brick; she knows all their secrets due to the very thin walls between their two bedrooms and often takes delight in harshly poking fun at Maggie for being childless.

I won't say anything else about the plot other than the fact that many secrets, long held views and the emotional stresses within this family are laid bare for all to see. A large number of themes are explored in 'Cat', an intense and emotional drama which deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize in the mid 1950s. The cast and director Meredith Collinson are to be congratulated on their presentation of this seminal play which I can wholeheartedly recommend. It runs nightly until Saturday the 13th, starting at 7:30pm.

Reviewer - David Swift
on - 10.11.21