Escaping to ‘British Summertime’ on a very wet Monday evening in the festival was a good decision. Despite only lasting 45 minutes, this was an unpretentious but enjoyable romp.
There were some technical hitches and some long blackout pauses, but the five characters in this production were beautifully observed by a really good cast. This was original music that was tuneful with more than a passing acknowledgement to a bygone age of musicals but much easier on the ear than many new shows on the fringe.
The company call themselves ‘Piece of Fluff’ and the plot could be summed up in these three words. Tony, an organising control freak has planned a big wedding much to the horror of his bride Charlotte. Add in a playboy best man Michael and an older sister Moira acting as bridesmaid for her sister. Everyone including Moira thinks it should be the other way round and add in a cool vicar and you have all the ingredients of a comic storyline aided and abetted by snow in May.
All the songs are well sung, but even more importantly brilliantly acted, and again some other companies could learn a lot from this cast. In the end Becca Dale probably catches the eye most as the initially cynical sister but only by a whisker. The vicar has only a cameo part but makes the most of it. Tony played By Simon Radford was a late recruit to the part but excelled in the initial song and his comic moments with Darren Chadwick as the best man.
This was a refreshing show entering the final week of the Fringe and has the basis for development and the introduction of relatives and friends that the team of Caro Wood (also Charlotte) and composer George Stevenson should consider.
Show times
Till 30 August, 6pm
Ticket Prices
£7.50-£9.50 (£6.50-£8.50)