Fabulous Family Felonies

Fabulous Family Felonies is a collection of diverse short plays, all of which at least loosely have the themes of family and felony. Very different in feel, all are well directed and performed.

All performed on a box set, with very distinctive red walls, there is a concerted effort to make each show feel different with decoration and furnishings. The shows share a lighting designer, John Woolrych, who gives a different feel to each play. The same stage manager, Jane Sherwood, helps the shows to transition smoothly and effectively.

Melville Theatre’s production of A Dame Remembers, written and directed by Bob Charteris, picked up several accolades at the recent DramaFest, and returns with the same actress, Jenny Wrenn, commanding the stage in the title role. A bitter-sweet little comedy about an ageing actress keen to revive her career It features a collection of unlikely allies including her agent Eleanor, efficiently played by Jenni Lilley, her niece Ashley, given flair by Claire Yates and old flame Henri played with charm by Peter Neaves. Tom Rees completes the cast, using a variety of accents and characterisations to play Dame Cecilia’s handyman, chimney sweep, accountant, chef and chauffeur.

In Pulling Weeds, well written by Yvette Wall and nicely directed by Dale James, a daughter returns unexpectedly from the UK to find her dysfunctional family in even bigger trouble than she expected. Although powerfully constructed and well-acted, it can be hard to watch, not only for its nastiness and abuse, but because perhaps only one of the characters has any redeeming features. Riane Lake delivers an impressive performance as Carla the prodigal daughter, who has secrets of her own. Michael Balmer is convincing as patriarch Joe, whose impending death has not calmed his vitriol or abuse. Claire Westheafer is believable as mother Wendy, who overindulges her younger daughter and is stuck in an abusive relationship, while Cally Zanik portrays over indulged and misguided Kel with compelling realism.

Unlike the first two plays, which are locally written, Fluff, by John Scholes, is a fairly well known British one-act play, but one I have not seen for many years. This incarnation, directed by Jane Sherwood, is played with the pace and energy it needs to fly. Set in a bedroom of Grinleigh Manor as a party happens downstairs, there is a plan to steal the guests’ fur coats. Nice teamwork from this tight cast, with Peter Neaves as burglar Joe, Laura Brunini as his sister Sally, Paul Williams as aristocratic Nigel and Kate Elder as his girlfriend Alice. A fun way to end the evening. 

Fabulous Family Felonies was a nicely curated, varied evening of entertainment that satisfied its audience well. A lovely way to kick off Stirling’s 2022 Season.

Kimberley Shaw