It Could Be Any One of Us

Therry’s latest production It Could Be Any of Us is all about the details. Experienced director Kerrin White has looked beyond the text to draw out every satirical moment and bring us a fast-paced look at this family of failures.

The action takes place in the old English country home of the Chalke family; the rundown residence is home to a composer, a writer, a painter, a detective and a wayward teenager. Set design by White is so authentic you can almost smell the mildew caused by the leaking roof, while Mary Formosa has also done a fine job in dressing the set.

Playwright Alan Ayckbourn gives us all the elements that make a farcical murder mystery so much fun-twists and turns, slamming doors and high-pitched squeals. He manages to capture the imagination with his well-rounded characters. Ayckbourn wrote several possible endings, allowing the director the option to have a different murderer every performance or stick with the one culprit for the entire season. This twist adds to the mystique of the production.

White has assembled a stellar cast to breathe life into the play’s eccentric bunch of wannabes. Each actor is flawless in delivery; their understanding of timing means that gags come thick and fast.

Roman Turkiewicz is commanding as the vengeful and nasty eccentric old composer, Mortimer Chalke, who holds the family to ransom as he tells them of his plans to bequeath the family home to a former student upon his death. His fate is not surprising. Gigi Jeffers gives a star turn as Jocelyn Polegate; she is warm and likeable in her portrayal of the woman of the house. Bonnie MCallister has teenage sulking and rebellion down to a fine art as Jocelyn’s daughter Amy and manages to elicit many laughs simply with her facial expressions.

Brad Martin, as wannabe detective Norris Honeywell, tackles his role with gusto; his enthusiasm is infectious. Former student Wendy Windwood (Miriam Keane) is the straight-laced mother of three. Capturing a sense of innocence, Keane’s nervy portrayal is joyful.

Rounding out the cast is Ben Todd as Brinton Chalke. I would go so far as to say this is the best role I have seen Todd play. He is hilariously awkward; his physical comedy is gut-busting; I found myself laughing every time he was on stage.

This production ticks all the boxes; pace, timing, humour and layered characters mean that the audience is invested right until the very end.

Kerry Cooper