A Bunch of Amateurs

by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman

directed by Louisa Jenkins

Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero, Jefferson Steele, arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs.

Noda Review

Author: Joyce Handbury

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's A Bunch of Amateurs started life as a film screenplay for a movie. Based on an original idea by John Ross and Jonathan Gershfield it was released in cinemas in 2008. The Watermill Theatre in Newbury had expressed an interest in turning the script into a play for the theatre whilst the film was in production but it was many years later before that interest was turned into a reality. It finally arrived on stage at the Watermill in May 2014. It tells the story of a fading Hollywood action hero, Jefferson Steel, who is deceived by his agent into playing King Lear in Stratford where he believes he will be appearing on stage at the legendary RST in Stratford-upon-Avon. Instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench he finds that he has signed on with the Stratford Players in the Suffolk village of Stratford St. John who are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Expecting a suite at a fancy hotel, the actor finds himself lodging in a Bed and Breakfast and his arrogance and monstrous ego barely allow him to conform to such indignities as rehearsing in a village hall. He slowly comes to rethink some of his assumptions and to look at life in a whole new way and following his reconciliation with his daughter he realises that he is no better, in terms of talent and intelligence, than his amateur colleagues.

Martin A Baker was outstanding as Jefferson Steel. He totally commanded the stage depicting every aspect of the arrogance, the pomposity, the brashness, the coarseness of the character brilliantly, and all with a great American accent. His flamboyant, over-the-top outbursts were so extravagantly conceived and executed. His first attempts at rehearsals were hilarious when, with the the help of Denis, he slowly and so matter of factly delivered the lines from the auto-cue on the back of Denis and also in a later rehearsal when it was discovered that he had an ear piece connected to Denis. When his daughter, who has several allergies which he jests about and eventually agrees to her being in the play, has an allergic reaction to a celebratory chocolate and goes into anaphylactic shock, Jefferson is overcome with guilt. A very moving scenario ensues as he cradles his daughter and he is so desperate that she doesn't die. (This very much mirrors the scene form the actual play). There is a report that makes headlines in a newspaper saying that Jefferson has had a saucy encounter with their sponsor's wife which results in him being fired and the Players are no more! He turns to drink and his drunken persona is so well delivered as is the fight with mops and brooms with Nigel. It was truly a terrific and convincing performance.

Jo Petch was so impressive as Dorothy Nettle, the Director of the play. Her opening speech, in an attempt to gather support to save the theatre from closure, was so heartfelt and so passionately delivered. Jo was so self assured with a great confident air of authority but then so astutely and charmingly went about placating Steel and other cast members in her determination to bring the play to fruition. It was a very demanding role and Jo carried it off superbly.

A wonderful performance came from Nick Mothershaw as Nigel Dewsbury. He was just perfect in the role as he portrayed the pompous, full-of-himself solicitor with such melodramatic fervour and grandiose gestures. He felt that he should always play the lead roles and his resentment towards Jefferson was expressed in no uncertain terms and finally resulted in his leaking of the ‘story’ to the newspaper.

What a delightful performance came form Samantha Drake as Mary Plunkett the local bed and breakfast landlady. On hearing that Jefferson Steel was coming to be in the play, and later when meeting him, she epitomised so outrageously and enthusiastically the antics of a star-struck fan. She brought out the comedic elements of the role so exquisitely and the running gag of referring to Jefferson in the wrong films was so funny. However, when she witnessed what was an innocent massage given to Jefferson by Lauren Bell, she immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion and we saw a very different Mary and Samantha so expressively became distraught and angry.

What a hoot Ed Watkins was as Denis Dobbins, general handyman. His droll comments and his comic timing were fantastic as were his hilarious eye antics, his over zealousness as Jefferson's entourage, his driving of the mobility scooter and dressed as a women so he could be in the play, well, they were all just first-rate.

Meg Russell was just super in the role of Jessica Steel, the estranged teenaged daughter of Jefferson. She was strong and feisty and eventually managed to get her way into having a part in the play.

The role of Laureen Bell was quietly and serenely played by Jo Attenborough, as befitted a marketing executive and former physiotherapist. Her skills, as a physiotherapist, were quite expertly manipulated by Jo as she deftly massaged Jefferson following his slight accident and she too, following a very short audition, was offered part in the play.

Good support came from Jeremy Crane, notably, as the intrepid journalist. Jefferson learns his lines, the play goes ahead and is a great success so much so that Dorothy is asked to take it to the real Stratford. Jefferson is offered a role back in the USA, as a result of his King Lear role, which he rejects, to stay acting with the Players.

In this extremely small venue it is not easy to replicate a Village Hall, a Theatre and a room in a B&B but the set design, its construction and with excellent props this was very innovatively and creatively achieved. The costumes were fine, especially the sumptuous play ones, and by the subtle changing of attire by the cast, the passage of time was established. There were no problems with lighting and sound and the choice of appropriate music, together with the snippets of songs sung by various cast members, added the final touch to what was a most entertaining and first-class production and I might add that it was most definitely, not performed by a bunch of amateurs! Many congratulations to Lou Jenkins in her first role as Director, to the superb cast, to all of the Back Stage Crew and indeed to everyone else involved and lastly, many thanks for the warm welcome that I received.