Separate Tables

Open Space Theatre’s Separate Tables at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 20 November 2014

Open Space Theatre’s annual autumn tour arrived at Lowestoft’s Seagull Theatre with a fine example of stage writing, surefire acting and direction.

Separate Tables is a pair of interconnected plays set in a 1950s’ south coast hotel, a rather sad place peopled by lost characters, past their prime or inadequate in some way.

April Secrett and Roy Goodwin were the once-married couple facing their shared past as it cleverly unfolded. Eileen Ryan’s hotel manager showed skill and empathy, Tim Hall embodied the hapless, pretend retired major and Geoff Cadman the former schoolmaster.

Yves Green was outstanding as the superior, resident matriarch with the excellent Emma Martin as her downtrodden daughter who found her own voice.

Other guests (Annie Chapman, Anne McClarnon, Jake Kubala and Becky Martin) explored the nuances of their characters with skill and attention to detail. Waitresses Emma Owen-Jackson and Alison Dumbell were well drawn.

Scene changes were swift and fun – an added touch from the creative mind of director David Green who once again proved that Open Space is one of the best of our local, touring groups.