“Lockdown In Little Grimley” by Riverside Drama Company

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

Riverside are back with a comedy double bill written by David Tristram. The first of the two one-act plays being “Little Grimley Performs Strictly Sex Factor On Ice”. This is a bid by the Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society to counter the popularity of Saturday Night TV, in a desperate attempt to lure a TV audience to a theatre audience.

Chairman Gordon has devised another cunning plan to compete head-on with their very own live Saturday night blockbuster, combining the best of all the other formats. All they need now is an audience, some contestants, four judges, a mirror ball ...oh, yes, and some ice.

In 'Lockdown' the Chairman Gordon calls an emergency meeting, complete with social distancing, to discuss his idea for their next production when restrictions ease - a touching ghost/love story set in a hospital, where a Phantom comes back to haunt the Operating Theatre, well you can see where this is going can't you? All profits from Gordon's play are destined for the NHS. But based on their previous efforts, will the NHS actually end up worse off?

Jokes about lockdown, toilet rolls and social distancing all help to keep the audience laughing, but the four actors also ensure a strong story is told over the laughter.

This second one act comedy is actually art reflecting life as David Tristram has confirmed that all profits from these performances will actually be passed to the NHS.

There is no set needed, apart from four chairs, a table and a few other props so all we need to do is concentrate on the actors and the wonderfully comic script. The comedy being both verbal and visual.

Dan Bates plays Bernard, Little Grimley’s prompt and handy man. In the play's description it describes Bernard as "just Bernard" and I can see what that means now. Dan is a brilliant character actor and has great comic timing, which he uses to the max in this role.

Samantha Badman plays leading lady, Margaret, ever so slightly better than the others, a proper diva who you feel has got to be front and centre stage in every Grimley production, but when her front dips, she has a wickedly potty mouth on her! I loved the fact that in Margaret's last play she needed the prompt for her first line, and practically every third line thereafter.

Rebekah Dean plays the secretary of the Little Grimley’s Amateur Dramatic Society, Joyce. This character reminds me ever so slightly of Su Pollard, or is it Rebekah in the way she plays Joyce that reminds me of Su Pollard, I have not made my mind up yet. Joyce is one of those characters who is drafted in to make up the

numbers as she can't reliably take notes and can't remember a script. She can't sing, can just about stand up on skates but is a real tryer, and is extremely funny without meaning to be. Rebekah on the other hand is extremely funny and means to be so, and succeeds.

Phil Whittaker is Little Grimley’s Chairman, Gordon. Gordon has big ideas for the drama group, but convincing Margaret to go along with them is the fly in their dramatic ointment. Gordon could not be more of a luvvie if he wore a smoking jacket and cravat, but he has enthusiasm and wants to enthuse everyone with it.

Directed by Elle Bates this, unlike Little Grimley's Amateur Dramatic Group, is another big success. Riverside are well known for their comedy and this raises their comedic bar another notch. There are no shortage of laughs here, not just giggles, proper laughs, and it is great to see Riverside back on stage where they belong.

On a more serious note, the ending delivers a serious message for the Arts, complete with Queen's song "The Show Must Go On".

“Lockdown In Little Grimley” is at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 26 June.