"Variety Is The Spice Of Life" by The Arcade Players.

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

I have searched my history and review pages and this is the first time I've had the pleasure of reviewing a production by The Arcade Players. How on earth have I managed to let them slip through my fingers?

This is a quartet of small plays performed under the one banner of "Variety Is The Spice Of Life". Normally only nine or so members take part in the Arcade Players presentations but as this was the last one of the season, they decided to create parts for all the 21 members.

The first is "Mother Figure" written by Alan Ayckbourn, and the only one of the quartet that I had seen previously. Featuring Rheema Orme-Hawksley as the over-worked mother of three youngsters, her neighbours Rosemary, played by Rachel Ludlam and Rosemary's husband Terry, played by Phil Deakin, come round to "check" on her. This had been prompted because Lucy's husband was working in Middlesborough and had been unable to get in touch by phone with Lucy. This was one courtesy call that the neighbours wished they had not made as the time spent looking after three little ones have taken their toll on Lucy! A wonderful observational comedy by Ayckbourn and, as per usual, a very witty script. Produced by Rob Byatt.

The second playlet surrounds the Book Club of Little Witterington, written by Joan Greening. When the four ladies of the club get together for their monthly meeting, it's not only the books which get read and discussed, especially with the addition of a new member who really puts the cat among the pigeons. I loved the different characters featured in this playlet, and it gave each actor a chance to shine with their specific characters. Beverley White (Jenny), Laurie Trott (Sarah), Roberta King (Ruth), Christine Hewitt (Belle), and the cat who ruffled these pigeons' feathers, Paul, played by Alex Chalk. This play was produced by Margaret Butcher.

After the interval we were treated to "Talk In The Park", the second offering from Alan Ayckbourn's pen, and this is again typically Ayckbourn with its' dissection of the human tolerance level. Produced by Rob Byatt, who seems to have a bit of a penchant for Mr Ayckbourn's work, we meet Beryl (grace Deakin), Earnest (Alistair Langton), Charles (Nick Hallam), Doreen (Ellen Horton) and Arthur (Keith Butcher). All are sat in separate benches in the park doing their own thing until Earnest starts a chain reaction of disruption with the other four.

The final play, "Slim Chance", by Peter Gordon, is about a group of ladies attending the weigh in at their local slimming club, intent on doing something about those extra few pounds which need shedding. A new and extremely nervous new member joins, Louisa, played wonderfully paranoid by Margaret Butcher. Whereas the rest of the weight watchers, Jean (Sheila Poyzer), Betty (Miriam Deakin), Irene (Caroline Byatt), Ann (Hannah Draper), Debbie (Hayley Wood), the brilliant double act of Marjorie (Jeanette Speak) and Edna (Sheila Patching) may look like they belong in such a collective, Louisa looks underweight, so why is she there? This playlet was produced by Beverley White and Hannah Draper.

All four playlets have something in common, and that is the status quo is, at different levels, upset by the addition of another person, and the reactions from those there before that addition. At times, like the plays in the second act, there may be something more sinister behind the inclusion of the addition to the group, or just an upsetting of the applecart. But there is also that discovery of humour in the unlikeliest of scenarios.

I was advised prior to entering the auditorium that there was no scenery, but you did not need scenery because there were plenty of props to show the environment of the play, and the scripts for all were so good that you could picture all that you needed scenery wise in your head. It also meant that you were more concentrated on the actors, their characters and the wonderful scripts.

The sound effects were used well, and from where I was sitting you could hear all the actors well, even over the soundscapes or incidental music. The technical side of the production was managed by Mike Beedham.

You may have noticed that I've not given too much away about each play, or the roles played by this wonderful cast, and that is because I did not want to provide any spoilers to the closing of the plays, but hopefully just a taster of the variety of playlets, which certainly forms the spice of life within this drama company.

What I also must applaud is the fact that there were quite a few more mature actors involved, and I loved the character and colour they brought to the evening. I think we all know an Edna and a Marjorie, or have at least come across them at some time or another, and these actors enrich the fabric of local theatre. It's also a lovely mix with the younger actors performing alongside them; and I am sure much was learned on both ends of the scale. The wealth of acting talents provided a tasty evening's entertainment.

At only £8.00 a ticket this works out at only £2.00 a play, so what have you got to lose?

"Variety Is The Spice Of Life" is being performed at the Duchess Theatre until Saturday 7 May.