Don't Dress For Dinner

Date published: 18/06/2008

Errant husband Bernard, played with great skill by Ian Mansfield sees a wonderful opportunity for a weekend of passion with his mistress Suzanne when his wife decides to visit her mother.

He hires a cook, invites his best friend Robert as cover, and can't wait to pack his wife off, rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of the hanky-panky to come.

However, unbeknown to Bernard, his wife Jacqueline, played by Judith Mansfield also has a secret lover and coincidentally, it's Robert played by Tim Keiley.

So when she discovers he is visiting for the weekend, she promptly cancels her arrangements, announces that she too will be staying, and also looks forward to a night of illicit passion.

Bernard's amorous plans are in tatters, and how will he explain the arrival of his mistress Suzanne?

Thinking on his feet, he manages to persuade his friend Robert to pretend that Suzanne is actually his girlfriend.

Reluctantly, Robert agrees to go along with the charade - until the arrival of the cook, Suzette, leads to a classic case of mistaken identity and for the plot to spiral out of everyone's control.

Suzette, played brilliantly by Joanne Frost who once again displays her impeccable comic timing, dominates the stage with her attempts to convince Bernard's wife that she is a top Parisian actress and model are hilarious.

The dialogue sparkles with saucy lines - "You're getting paid for it, and you're getting laid for it" - and a scene in which Suzette's frumpy waitress uniform is transformed into a slinky black number is a masterpiece of comic timing.

All the roles are strongly played, completed by Annette Nodwell as the sexy mistress, who finds herself confined to the kitchen, and Pete Dignan as Suzette's no-nonsense hubby. The audience were literally rolling in the aisles with laughter and director Sue Howarth makes an impressive debut as a director and maintains excellent pace throughout.

With an imaginative use of an impressive set - a converted country farmhouse in France complete with bedrooms called the Piggery and Cattle Shed it proved to be yet another excellent evenings entertainment from the St Anne's Players.

St Anne's Players 
11 -14 June 2008