Suspicious Minds

verdandiweaves had a play performed at the GRV theatre last week and Mrs. HtC and I went to see it. verdandiweaves met us as we were sorting out tickets and was obviously very happy at how the run was going.  We don't see enough of her so this was already a good start to the evening.

The GRV is down a narrow close in the old town, one that I'd never been down before even though it is a stone's throw from where I work.  The play was performed in the round, in a fairly small room with a mix of seating.  The sofas and tables were taken when we arrived so we sat in the slightly less luxurious row of chairs along the wall (which was fine). 

We both enjoyed ourselves.  The cast of four seemed to enjoy themselves too; they were very good.  The play calls for some fairly exuberant performances, particularly from the actor who plays the life-long Elvis fan, who ends up dressed in an Elvis costume and has to sing a bit along the way.  The story also leaps about, jumping from one event to another in a number of flashbacks and leading to one moment that linked all four characters.  The suspicious minds of the audience are left to wonder to what extent the leader of the four actually arranged what seemed to be a random event. 

The narrative was linked by addresses to the audience, part knowing, part revealing.  And there were some good jokes and comic touches.  I particularly liked the Elvis fan using the brass plate on a coffin as a mirror to check his hair, which was done in the background while the main action involved the other three characters.

It had been rather a long time since we last went to the theatre, so this was a welcome night out.  It was good to be so close to the action too. Definitely a play I'd recommend.