Killing Time at The Grand

Oh joy! It was a delight to sit and watch “Killing Time”, directed and produced by Ian Dickens, at The Grand last evening. It's a good yarn and was well acted by Huw Higginson and Hannah Waterman. It must be a challenge to take part in a two-hander, maintaining realistic dialogue and retaining the interest of the audience, but the tension between the two characters was sustained, helped by a good script from Richard Stockwell.

The story is set in the living room of comfortable middle class house. Jane has just given Rick a lift home, to thank him for coming to her rescue at the supermarket check-out. She found herself without her purse and he gallantly came to her rescue, paying for the shopping. She accepts the offer of a gin and tonic and reveals that, despite being financially well off, her marriage is not happy. Rick is a bit more reticent about revealing his background, but as the play progresses we learn that neither is quite as they first appear. As the balance of power shifts from one to the other and our sympathies waver, the story gets darker.

As I entered into the story as an ordinary member of the audience the am dram critic sitting like a parrot on my shoulder was taking notes. So much is down to body language, inuendo, looks exchanged or witheld, tone of voice. Learning and delivering lines is only the first step. This was no comedy, but good lines raised laughs on several occasions.

Well done all and I hope Ian Dickens Productions is back next year.

Dorothy