Plymstock & District

Play Reading

We try to alternate between lighter and slightly more serious pieces and, usually, we enjoy taking on roles which we read aloud over a cup of coffee. However, you do not need to produce an Oscar-winning performance.

There is no doubt that the best way to experience a farce is when it is performed on a stage with multiple entrances but, nevertheless, before Christmas, we tackled ‘Dry Rot’ by John Chapman with gusto! The varied cast includes a colonel, a gang of corrupt bookies, a rather dim-witted maid who falls in love with the equally challenged bookie’s assistant, an excitable French jockey and several other characters which gave us scope for ‘inventive’ interpretations! The play is fast-paced and involves secret panels, mistaken identity, romance and slapstick. Did we come up to the standard of Brian Rix, Peggy Mount and co? Perhaps not, but we gave it our best shot and had plenty of laughs.

In complete contrast, after the Christmas break we read ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier. It is a play most of us knew but performing it gave us more of an insider view of the action and the evil machinations of Mrs. Danvers still provoked our indignation.

We still aim to read a variety of plays and would be very happy for other u3a members to try out our group.

Please contact Izzy if you enjoy the theatre and would like to discover new plays and re-visit old favourites.