Natural Causes

Natural Causes
By Eric Chappell. Eltham Little Theatre. Director: Mel de Bono. Feb 14 – Mar 1, 2014.

Natural Causes, a black comedy by English writer Eric Chappell, was given an entertaining airing by Eltham Little Theatre.

The single set was quite complicated on the small stage, with characters having to be seen in the garden and to disappear up the stairs. It worked well and was quite impressive.

The play was dominated by Phil Holmes as the bumbling Vincent, a member of Exodus, a euthanasia group that assists people in suicide. With his cheeky grin and superb timing he managed to inadvertently almost kill most of the cast who weren’t planning suicide. It was a tour de force.

As Walter, the husband who invites Vincent to assist his wife, Peter Hatherley moves from initially confident to highly stressed as things do not go according to plan. Denise Kuchmar was his depressed wife, Celia, who seemed unusually happy at the prospect of shuffling off this mortal coil, though Walter wasn’t that enthusiastic about her including him in her plans. She was very funny.

Debbie Rowland was the scheming secretary, Angie, who was the power behind the plot. Probably due to Walter’s stressed state, there wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the two, but each was convincing.

To add to the confusion, Steve Saul appeared as Withers, a member of the Samaritans, who tries to talk people out of committing suicide.

The whole play flowed well and was a very amusing evening at the theatre.

Graham Ford

Peter Kemp also reviews Natural Causes.

When Vincent from Exodus, a euthanasia assistance group, is invited to Walter Bryce’s country house to assist in the suicide of Walter’s wife, he senses something is wrong.

Why are the suicide notes unsigned? What is the role of Walter’s attractive secretary?\

And why has the Samaritan been sent for?

Phil Holmes was the man from Exodus. Holmes gave a great performance as the man who assisted suicide but had his hands full trying to work out who was the suicidee. Walter Bryce, the writer who called in Exodus to help his wife in her suicide, was given a stirling performance by Peter Hatherley. He caught the role with finesse and handled the character professionally.

His wife, Celia was played by Denise Kuchmar. A good portrayal of the wife who had had enough and wanted to leave it all but wanted her husband to join with her. Kuchmar presented well, has a wonderful clear upper class accent in the role and added to the high standard of the production.

Walter’s secretary, Angie was given a wonderful portrayal by Debbie Rowland. A strong determined woman who was out for what she could get. Rowland handled the character with aplomb catching the role as envisaged.

The man from the Samaritans, Withers, who started off cheerful and enthusiastic for life after talking to Vincent changed his mind somewhat. Withers was played by Steve Soul who gave a good performance with good stage projection.

The design team at Eltham are to be congratulated on their design for the set of Walter Bryce’s study/library of the early 1990s. The room had French doors leading outside which showed a garden, all giving a realistic feel for the players and audience.

Peter Kemp   

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