• bernard
• jacqueline
• robert
• suzette
• suzanne
• george

• Director
• Stage Management
• Lighting Design
• Lighting & Sound
• Continuity
• s
• Set design
• wardrobe
• s
• programme/Poster design

• alan lade
• tricia pape
• garry fowler
• jenny humphries
• sharon olieff
• matt robinson

• dorothy hemsley
• gill watson, cicely ridley
• paddy turner
• brenda hanham
• kathleen kennard, glenys allaway
• dorothy hemsley
• margaret kennedy, marie mason
• alan lade

BIG TALENT AT THE LITTLE THEATRE Review by Shirley Linsell

Don't Dress for Dinner is set in the present day in a country house some distance from Paris. Bernard and his wife, Jacqueline, have converted an old farm building for weekends. On this weekend, Bernard is intending to entertain his mistress while Jacqueline visits her mother. He is quickly outmanoeuvred by his clever wife when she discovers that his alibi is her lover Robert, her husband’s best friend, who is coming to stay to keep Bernard company. To this mix add a cordon bleu cook who is mistaken for the mistress and we have the recipe for a naughty French weekend.
This play demands actors who excel in quick fire dialogue and good timing and a director who has the sense of pace. This is done to perfection. Well done Dorothy Hemsley as director.
First there is Alan Lade as Bernard, selfish, sure of himself. This actor is always good and never disappoints. Then there is the wife Jacqueline played by Tricia Pape extremely well. I am so glad to see Garry Fowler again. I first admired his acting in a previous production. His speech when he tries to explain what's happening goes on for some time and is delivered very fast and drew applause from the audience. Jenny Humphries plays Suzette, the cook who acts as the mistress to perfection. The scene where Bernard and Robert on stage change her cook’s uniform into an evening gown is done very cleverly.
These actors sent their words hurtling at each other at a furious pace rather like a mixed doubles match.
They were joined by Sharon Olieff as Suzanne, a welcome addition who joined in the word play. Another favourite was Matt Robinson who came in towards the end playing Suzette’s rather thick and jealous husband.
The costumes were great and so was the lighting. If I have to pick someone out the Bafta goes to Jenny Humphries. She was a delight.
Well done again Little Theatre.