CDS presents 'Three Plus Dinner'
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1998.
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Playing to large and appreciative audiences, according to a CDS press release, the first play "The Reticence of Lady Anne" by Saki, stars Roland Stacey as Egbert and Marlene Riley as his long suffering wife, Lady Anne. As with all Saki's stories, the plot centres around the frailties of human behaviour, with Egbert trying to convince his wife that his one-night liaison with a close friend of theirs was nothing for her to get cross about.
As his confession goes one, we discover that this is only one of many extramarital affairs and he makes the situation worse for himself with his continuous attempts of justification due to his wife's silence, which he takes as silent rage and contempt. The comedy is subtle and perhaps some members of the audience could identify themselves with the main character, suggests the release.
The second offering, "Last Panto in Grand Cayman", by David Tristram, is the sequel to "Last Tango in Grand Cayman". Also performed Susan Howe by the CDS (last year) with the same cast, Susan Howe (Joyce), Malcolm Ellis (Gordon), Jennifer Ahearn (Margaret) and Martin Tedd (Bernard). For those who didn't see "Last Tango..." the comedy is about the Cayman Drama Society down on its luck with only four members remaining.
Gordon decides to write a play with a sexual theme and the audience packs itself in due to the advance publicity. This time Gordon writes a sexpanto and the play deals with the hilarious problems that arise, i.e. convincing the others to go along with his plans, the script with typos (s & t's are reversed due to a faulty word processor programme), personalities and finally the opening night itself. It is very, very funny and will appeal to everybody, even non-thespians, producers promise
The final offering, "Are You Being Served?", probably needs no introduction. Based on the very popular BBC comedy series of the same name which plays on PBS Television six nights a week, Colin Wilson has transcribed and updated the episode "German Week" to fit the stage.
It is very difficult to enact a long running TV show, as the audiences have come to identify particular actors with the characters they portray, and CDS did a very commendable job with the "Fawlty Towers" series. "Are You Being Served?" is even more difficult, says the release, as instead of a couple of central characters they are dealing with nine.
However, last weekend's audience soon warmed to the CDS actors, says CDS, most notably Penny Phillips as Mrs. Slocombe (complete with enormous bosom) and Bryn Martin as the slightly effeminate Mr. Humphries. Other performers are Tony Rowlands, (Capt. Peacock), Peter Riley (Mr. Grainger), Steven Roy (Mr. Lucas), Sharon Kelly (Miss Brahms), Phil Thomas (Mr. Rumbold), Martin Tedd (Mr. Mash) and David Godfrey as a very funny young Mr. Grace.
Lizanne Burbridge held the men's attention as the busy and flighty Miss Thorpe (Mr. Rumbold's hopeless secretary) and Roland Stacey, Marjorie Godfrey and Anne Hetley made up the cast of very offhand and largely disgruntled customers.
For those not familiar with the series, "Are Your Being Served", is about the misfortunes of the Women's and Men's Depts. Of Grace Bros., a large London Departmental Store. When the owner, Young Mr. Grace, on the advice of the bumbling floor manager, Mr. Rumbold, decideson a German Week only when German goods are to be sold, there is much hostility to it by the staff, especially when they have to dress up in traditional German costume and dance.
Peter Phillips is stage manager and largely responsible for the set, which drew a large round of applause from the audience when it was revealed for Are You Being Served (complete with elevator), the release states.
Three Plus Dinner plays on Fridays and Saturdays only from 5-20 June. Dinner is available on both nights. Ticket: non-dinner $12.50, dinner, $30. Reservations a must for dinner from Phillips Electrical, tel. 9495585.
