Comedy over dinner as drama group entertains

and nicknamed him ‘Larry the Loner’.

As Larry, Martin Dew successfully took the audience through a wide range of emotions from his initial pique to excitement that, if they work together, they might be able to escape, until finally he decides that he prefers his own company and waves them off.

The supporting cast of Fiona Wellstood, Mike Owens, Alan Blair and Tom Inglis were all superbly convincing

Credit must be given for the excellent period-style costumes and to the visual gags, such as the photo of Glen Miller and the Thomas Cook brochure.

Directed by Jane Drysdale, ‘The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley’ is the third play in a trilogy about a failing amateur dramatic group.

This time the threat comes from a rival group which has been established by chairman Gordon’s ex-wife.

John Cummings was brilliant as the cuckolded husband determined to wrest back control and suitably unkind to his stooge, poor, meek Joyce, convincingly played by Helen Day, who has only ever wanted to put on a musical.

An elaborately complicated scheme to spike the guns of their rivals descends into farce and, as their duplicity is uncovered, the group must face the consequences.

Janice Bourelle and Neil Combe were both first-rate in their roles of Margaret, wannabe leading lady, and hapless, banana-eating Bernard who winds up wearing his trombone.

As the play ends, it is revealed that Gordon has thrown in the towel and joined the opposition.

Between the plays, Gourlays served another excellent two course meal.

As always, the success of the plays depends on plenty of backstage support, including lighting, sound, costume, makeup, props and staging, as well as the quietly efficient front of house crew.

• Crieff Drama Group will be performing its annual Christmas show for younger children on November 30 in Strathearn Artspace in the lead up to the town’s festive lights switch-on.

Then the busy thespians will take a break before rehearsals begin for their spring production.

‘Quartet’, the witty and poignant comedy by Ronald Harwood, will run from April 16 to 18 next year in Academy Hall.