Matriarchs, Mystery and Mayhem

Stirling Players licked off their 2025 Season with three one act plays under the banner Matriarchs, Mystery and Mayhem. The three plays were loosely associated by a theme of matrimony, with the first featuring a widow keen for remarriage, the second a silver wedding anniversary and the final play being set on the day of a wedding. The three plays were very different in style, but all were clever comedies.

The Dowager’s Dilemma is written and directed by Stirling member Bob Charteris. Dowager Duchess Martha has been widowed for a year, and feeling pressure from the new Duchess, would like to move out and remarry. Consultation with her solicitor reveals all potential matches are out of the question, and her butler is unhelpful and rude.

Janet Weston nicely plays the titular dowager, clashing well with Peter O’Connor as Gauntly, the butler. Peter Boylen is believable as the harried solicitor, while Jane Anderson breezily steals the scene in her appearance as the new, brash American duchess.

After a brief interlude we were treated to Pastiche, a favourite of director Janet Braidwood. Medford is filling in for Sir Peter’s butler, and is expecting to wait on Sir Peter who is entertaining a chorus girl. When Peter’s wife returns to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary, Medford and Lady Alexandra join forces donning disguises to foil Peter’s plans.

Kieran Ridgway is highly energetic and loveable playing keen and hardworking Medford, literally running for most of the show, and performing ultra-quick changes. Alexandra Sparks-Williams is lovely as namesake Lady Alexandra, adept at physical comedy. Gregory Hopson has great bluster as continually foiled Sir Peter while Keira Lilley is believable as chorine Viola.

The after-interval play, Before I Do, was a new play from local playwright and Stirling Member Yvette Wall, and was an impressive directorial debut for Megan Lilley. Plans for a perfect wedding fall apart when bride-to-be Clare beds a strange (and good looking) young man the night before her wedding day. Mother-of-the-bride tries to put the wedding back on track while encountering unhelpful interference from husband Peter, her niece come bridesmaid, and the young man still in the house.

Ann Speicher leads the cast of this clever farce, as Mother-of-the Bride Sonia, barely offstage, she manages to go through 11 variations of frantic while remaining interesting and energetic - a fabulous performance. Ian Lawrence is great as polar opposite Peter, laid-back and effectively useless.

Bridesmaid and bride’s cousin Ronelle is gorgeously awkward as played by Hayleigh Moss - a lovely journey. Bride Clare plays a great emotional arc, while Jack Riches is relaxed and funny as interloper Dingo and Eamon Connolly makes the most of short stage time as groom Bradley.

All three plays featured effective light and sound from John Woolrych, with simple but effective furnishings creating vastly different settings within minutes. Costumes were nicely chosen throughout.

The sold-out matinee audience mid-run clearly had a ball watching these three shows, which featured some impressive writing, direction and performances.

Kimberley Shaw