A glimpse backstage, onstage in Bembridge Little Theatre Club’s latest offering. 

Peter Quilter’s The Actress was a fine choice of play for this theatre group.

A beautifully funny play that centres around the farewell performance of the complex and colourful leading lady, Lydia Martin.

Director, Dianne Aspinall, pulled together a strong cast who delivered the rollercoaster of emotions with hilarious scenes followed by poignant moments. 

Hanna Nixon is tour de force as the prima donna diva Lydia Martin as she takes her final bow in a production of The Cherry Orchard.

She delivers a stellar performance with real depth to her character and has fabulous stage presence.

From her captivating first entrance which earned her an applause before she’d even said a line, to the hilarious physical comedy moments and heartbreaking scenes, Nixon, rightly, steals the show.

Throughout the night, Lydia’s dressing room is invaded by a series of unexpected visitors who are desperate to shower her with praise or renew old battles.

Jane Roberts delights as Lydia’s dresser who stays by her side throughout the evening.

Her performance is subtle and steady as Lydia’s constant companion and she’s given a couple of tender, reflective moments which really make an impact. 

This was one of the strongest acting performances I’ve seen of Rob Bingham’s. He gradually relaxed into the part and his speech and movement became a lot more natural.

There were some great comic moments and his interactions with Lydia were very amusing. 

Lydia’s moody teenage daughter was played by Genevieve Dorning with great energy and characterisation.

Lydia’s ageing fiancé, Charles, was very popular with the audience at Bembridge and had us all laughing at his puffing and sputtering after his ascent up the stairs to her dressing room. 

Martie Cain and Olivia Pike both give us a show stopping comedy masterclass.

Cain as Lydia’s sycophantic agent and Pike as the long-suffering company manager who dares to pass on a note from the director to the leading lady.

The comic timing, the hilarious facial expressions and the splendid characterisation from them both had the audience in stitches.

One of the standout moments in the play was when Cain’s character downs a bottle of brandy and tottles around the stage in a desperate attempt to deliver her closing night speech. Superb!

Although it took a bit of time to get going, the pace really picked up.

Dianne directed a fine piece of theatre performed by a strong cast. 

Bembridge Little Theatre Club has a good eye for a script that plays to their strengths.

They’ve selected a show that is both popular with the audience (a sell-out on the night I went) and gives their cast great characters to sink their teeth into.

I look forward to their performance of The Ghost Town later in the year.