Crossed wires and cross dressing in romp through Happy Acres

Compton Players: Happy Acres, at Compton Village Hall from Wednesday, October 26, to Saturday, October 29. Review by TONY TRIGWELL-JONES

LAST Thursday, I was privileged to be invited to Compton Village Hall to see the Players’ revival of Happy Acres. Originally written by local resident H Connolly in 1994, this well-constructed farce is a light-hearted romp in the vein of Cooney and Ayckbourn, packed with confusion and entendres.

Six holidaymakers find themselves at the run-down Happy Acres health club, managed by the unscrupulous Mrs Comley. All of them are there to become fitter and healthier individuals – some have also booked to see the mysterious hypnotist Madame O to deal with some very specific personal matters.

What ensues is a madcap day and night of crossed wires and cross dressing, mischief, deception and mayhem as the guests fall foul to the exploitation of the hotel staff.

Eric Saxton’s skilled direction provides a sense of constant movement, to which the cast give consistently energetic performances. Ann Griffiths gives Mrs Comely a canny strength, emphasising the wily nature of the hotel owner. H Connolly is the dogged Sam, who fulfils all the other roles at the resort (from driver to handyman and beyond), performing each with excellent comic timing and physicality. Meanwhile Alan Johnson’s narcoleptic Mr Roberts is appropriately the straight man in act one, as a set up to his more comic turn after the interval.

Brenda Prior’s Madame O perfectly pitches her faux mysticism and appalling disguises to great comic effect. Mrs Liddle’s surprise transformation in act two gives Mary Warrington an opportunity to have fun with her character, particularly in relation to Mr Liddle (Chris Kendrick) whose “snide remarks” keep the audience laughing (and groaning) with a stream of dad jokes.

Miss Batty’s prim-to-vim transformation raises the biggest laughs of the night, played joyfully by Lynne Buckland, while her son George was the witty but dim-witted health fanatic (and hypochondriac) Wayne Picker, who never quite understands his partner’s needs. Naomi Read’s Clare Smith is as long-suffering as she is persistent and controlling, in what was perhaps the most nuanced and considered performance of the night.

All that aside, what made Happy Acres so very enjoyable was being among a community that has been coming together to make, perform and enjoy theatre for at least 75 years.

The inter-generational approach to cast, crew and front of house is part of a rich tradition that has inspired and encouraged hundreds over the decades – and long may it continue.