Review: Spring And Port Wine at Shinfield Players' Theatre
Barrie Theobald • Published 29 Mar 2010 09:00
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BILL Naughton's play first appeared in 1967, a time when many households up and down the country still lived in awe of domineering father figures and Nigel Dawes gave an outstanding portrayal as Rafe, the bigoted head of the Crompton family.
It was also a time when youth rebellion was in the air and despite the calming attempts of his wife Daisy (Sarah Pearce), cracks were beginning to appear in the family fabric, things coming to a head when daughter Hilda (Amy Hunter), having drunk too much port wine at a work party, declined the herring her mother had cooked for her tea.
One by one the remaining children announce their dismay at their father's harsh ruling that the dish should be presented at all future meals until Hilda eats it, eventually causing him to review his point of view before he loses them all.
This may all sound very dreary and dated material but light relief in the form of a constantly cadging neighbour Betsy Jane (Gilly Lee) and the humour in the material written for the other Crompton children kept the play on an even keel.
The well-designed set brought an authentic touch to the proceedings.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 25 Mar 10
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