One Act Play Season

GCLT’s One Act Play Season features four plays in the theme of Short and Dangerous.

Three first time stage directors presented a program with plenty of variety: Checkmate andThe English Game (Sam Cleverland), Nola (Dan Brixey) and A Murdered Mystery(Jay Ahrens).

The annual season is an opportunity for cast and directors to gain experience in live theatre and so allowances must be given as these people hone their theatrical skills.

Of the four, my favourite was The English Game, a three hander which deals with espionage and counter-espionage in pre WW11 Britain.

Dan Brixey not only directed Nola (also a three hander) but he also wrote the script: a commendable achievement. Nola is a ‘not too sweet’ little old lady who is rotten to the core.

Checkmatehad a husband and wife in a battle of wits both on the chess board and in real life as their marriage disintegrates.

A Murdered Mystery – a play within a play was confusing both in substance and direction. No doubt the director will learn a lot from this 6 hander.

With the Commonwealth Games taking a chunk out of the theatre season for next year the One Act plays have been suspended.

Roger McKenzie

Image: The English Game.