Director's Review

I reckon they should make a film of it… But then they did that already, which is where we started. The cast of seventeen all wanting to play Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise or Demi Moore, well, okay - not everyone wanted to be Demi Moore! (just Jenny and David!). But, as the cast were regularly reminded, this was the play - not the film.

Every now and then a play comes along that makes you realise why we do this stuff. To me, “A Few Good Men” was one of those. I like to think that all our productions are special. They should be, given the work goes into them. But, of course, some are more special than others.

In OTTC we pride ourselves on producing high quality drama. This doesn’t happen on its own, it requires a professional approach, a recognition of individual talents (and limitations), and the ability to bond those individual talents together, in order to create something special. Of course you need “A few good actors” as well and we certainly had them for this.

The casting was fairly self-evident – allowing a bit of artistic licence over our “young, highly-trained, super-fit, lean, mean, fighting-Marines”. I think we did a pretty damn good job in matching the finely drawn and diverse range of characters from our deep (and ever changing) pool of actors.

The stars of the play received, and deserved, the plaudits at the time, so I’ll just agree with the gushing review on that score, but this was ensemble playing and credit should be shared equally among the officers and the grunts.

As the Director, it is always interesting watching the cast grow into their characters, some do it quickly, others take their time. Good actors just make that transition a lot easier and help to produce, what was it again – “excellent, enthralling, engrossing theatre”. Yep!

Lance Hodges
Director

M/Sgt John Harden (pictured) came to see A Few Good Men and we were relieved to find that he didn't think he'd been wasting his time! John's kindly given permission for his e-mail to be posted here...

MSgt John W Harden

"My thanks to you and your crew for a night well spent when my daughter and I attended the production. It was apparent throughout the play that the training we provided was used and if I may say, used properly.

What a rewarding experience!

I saw the review in today's Swindon Advertiser and could not agree more.

It was a pleasure to watch and the talent of your crew is obvious, along with the dedication.

Good luck in future performances. The experience of working with the OTTC is not one I will soon forget. I'll be sure to pass on the rave review to my colleagues as well.

Sincerely,

John W Harden, MSgt, USAF
RAF Fairford, England"

Enthralling Piece of Theatre

The last time I watched Old Town Theatre Company, it was to see the women of the company in The Vagina Monologues. This time, it was the men who took centre stage – all but one that is.

A Few Good Men – you can say that again. These guys surpassed themselves; one in particular.

I have directed and watched a great many leading men; seldom have I directed or seen one as good as Paul Saunders.

He is a complete natural on stage and not half bad to look at either. Especially (as all the other women in the audience will vouch I’m sure) in uniform. This guy had a devil of a script to learn and he delivered every word as if he hadn’t. It simply flowed with natural tone and intonation. He wasn’t acting; he was Lieutenant Kaffee. That’s what acting is all about.

His side kick, David Howell, as Sam Weinberg, was a complete foil and brilliantly cast in his role. These two and the only lady in the production, Jenni Saunders, had a great rapport and were totally believable.

Nothing was left to chance in this production at Swindon’s Art Centre in Old Town. Even the men’s haircuts, which have been widely reported, were spot on. The guys went off to the army to learn to march and salute.

Julian Smith epitomised the belligerent, confrontational Army Colonel and Richard Large held a superb American accent throughout. Lance Hodges managed to direct this powerful, difficult play and take a role at the same time. No easy task but as always, he succeeded.

The clever direction of some of the scene changes worked well, keeping a fast, intriguing pace. I was almost annoyed when the interval came I was enjoying it so much.

The seventeen members of this cast worked hard and have shown a true dedication to their art by entering into it with so much emphasis on correct procedure, dress and style of the army. This, I can assure you, is seldom seen in many amateur companies.

It really is no small wonder that this company wins so many accolades. They produce excellent, enthralling, engrossing theatre.

Ros Hollands
Swindon Evening Advertiser