Dirty Dusting
Written by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood
Directed by Ben Derrick
Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society gave their audiences just what was needed with their latest production- a night of escapism and laughter. Dirty Dusting by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood tells the story of three quite elderly cleaning ladies who are at risk of losing their jobs. In retaliation they decide to start running a sex chat line using one of the office numbers to supplement their redundancy payout.
Ruth Dodsworth as Elsie, Jo Jefferson as Olive and Linda Harvey as Gladys
This situation gives the playwrights full scope for innuendo, misunderstandings and mayhem. The audience response was a series of genuine belly laughs.
Shakespeare this is not, but nevertheless, three experienced actors were able to wring every ounce of humour out of the script. Amateur theatre groups often have a wealth of talent amongst actresses of a certain age but a dearth of parts, so I imagine a script like Dirty Dusting will be in high demand. Ruth Dodsworth, Linda Harvey and Jo Jefferson certainly grasped the opportunity with both hands.
Elsie, Gladys and Olive
The three actresses were well cast, playing very distinct characters, but also being physically very different. This really enhanced the scenes. I believed in each one of them as the characters they were playing from the Girl Guide Leader to the repressed Gladys who suddenly finds her sexual mojo.
George Collinson as Dave
George Collinson supported as Dave, the mother-pecked manager desperate to see the back of the three cleaners. He comes unstuck when he tries to operate a hoover without full training. Full marks here for the detailed positioning of the fluff from the exploding vacuum cleaner.
Dirty Dusting
The set was excellent with great attention to detail. There was a fire door, fire alarm and suitable health and safety notices on the notice board. Even the window was given an excellent view. Costumes were good and scene changes slick.
The Set
The piece was directed by Ben Derrick, who tells us in the programme that this was his first attempt. Good job, Ben, there were some really interesting moves in this tricky but interesting space. Characterisation, pace and development of the script were all good. I would just have liked to have seen some more use of turning upstage when characters were right at the front, to give the audience at the sides a great full-face view of some of the action. Those of us in ‘pole position’ could then have focused on the reactions of the other actors.
Well done to everyone for a great choice of play for a chilly November evening. Thank you for inviting me, it really cheered me up.
Jay Cundell Walker, NODA
Photographs by Jerry Harvey and Chris Iredale