Ottery Community Theatre welcomed audiences to the Institute in Ottery St Mary last week with an Evening of One Act Plays written, directed, and performed by members, showcasing talent across the board.
First up was Operation Mr Pusskins, adapted and directed by Lizzie Harrison who also played the enthusiastic schoolteacher, whipping everyone into shape, including the audience! An expedition with her students across Dartmoor went horribly wrong when she was mauled and dismembered by a giant cat. The wet and hungry youngsters were forced to resort to their own devices to get themselves off the moor! Gruesome in parts but fun and enthusiastically performed!
During the interval a delicious ploughman’s supper was served, followed by Spirit of Ottery, written, and directed by Steve Chapman, highlighting the tradition of the famous Ottery Tar Barrels. It was set in a local hostelry in 1725, in which the bar, furniture and costumes took us straight back in time.
A gentleman arrived intending to take possession of the Barrels and use them to burn a witch, but he quickly fell foul of the locals, and the surly barmaid in particular. Her disapproving expressions were absolutely priceless! Two townswomen argued profusely over the merits of rolling the barrels against carrying them on their shoulders, but the famous tradition was firmly established at the end as two young men circled the hall with Tar Barrels aloft!
The final play, Dénouement, written and directed by Lea Pryer, was simply the 'pièce de resistance'. In true Agatha Christie style, everyone gathered in the drawing-room of the 'stately home' to uncover the murderer of his Lordship - DUN DUN DUN – and there was that moment! All the cast were true to their characters, they did well to weave around each other and the splendid furniture, as possible motives were analysed and dismissed. Central to the action was Private Investigator 'Hugh Dunnet', an impressive performance from Steven Pryer, stopped in his tracks by the blackout at the penultimate moment which made for a great finish!
A most enjoyable and entertaining evening, with the proceeds from the raffle donated in support of Ottery Library.
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