"Sailor Beware" by Ravenshead Theatre Group.

Ravenshead Village Hall.

Here's a play that I'd not heard of before, which dates back to 1955 and is one of a trilogy of plays concerning the Hornett family, written by Phillip King and Falkland Cary. The other two were "Watch It sailor" and "Rock A Bye Sailor".

King had previously written the 1945 farce "See How They Run". Ravenshead Theatre Group were to have performed this in 2020 but due to the dreaded "C Word", it was postponed until now. I popped over to Ravenshead on their second performance.

The Hornett household is dominated by Emma, the tyrannical wife of Henry, sister-in-law of Edie, and mother of Shirley. Able Seaman Albert Tuffnell is in love with Shirley, but he views the prospect of marrying into her family with concern, and well he might! He is an orphan and has never known home life. He decides to shock Mrs Hornett into recognising how badly she behaves to other people.

By jilting Shirley on their wedding morning he sets off a chain of events that lead family, neighbours and even the vicar to tell Emma what they think of her. She is duly chastened and all ends happily, though not without a hint that Shirley has the potential to become as formidable a wife as her mother has been.

Emma Hornett is played by Mandy Buckley, and for me the star of this show. What a brilliant character, and Mandy absolutely shines as Emma, the matriarch of the family. She bosses and cajoles absolutely everyone, and she has trouble stopping herself even after the epiphany. Mandy probably has an absolute ball playing Ma Hornett, almost as much fun as we had watching her.

Shirley Hornett, played by Sarah Tryner, and you can't help but feel just a little bit sorry for Albert, IF Shirley takes after her mother! Another fun role for Sarah that she has well and truly got her teeth into.

Albert Tufnell is played by Rob Hurst, and as I have always said, he delivers, and he does again with this part. Emma thinks she knows what sailors are like but she does not know Albert as well as she thinks she may.

Henry Hornett, played by Terry Cox. Oh, how brow-beaten Henry is, but his revelation of his true feelings towards his wife at the end is a really lovely touch by the authors, and Terry is just the man to bring out these two sides of Henry.

Edie Hornett, played by Julie Cox, and another brilliant character driven role. Edie was jilted at the altar and any little reminder causes the tears and the wailing to start. Bearing in mind that this play covers the eve of and the day of the wedding, you can imagine the emotions from Edie. Julie plays a blinder in this comedy role.

Mrs Lack is played by Karen Hall, and the neighbour who just happens to pop over, just as the tea is being brewed! Mrs Lack is also supposed to be putting up Albert, and his best man, fellow ship-mate Carnoustie. But this all goes awry which just piles the pressure on for Emma Hornett.

Daphne Pink plated by Catherine Buckley, and from the off, can I say what a gorgeous polka dot costume Catherine gets to wear. Daphne is Emma's relation who is there as Bridesmaid and to help Shirley on her big day. She also has a bit of a roving eye when it comes to Albert's best man! But does she get her man and is it more than her eye that is roving?

Carnoustie Bligh is played by Adam Nayar. Carnoustie is a Scot, but sometimes the accent travels South. Adam reminds me of a young Adil Ray with his looks, and I think that with a wee bit more projection in his voice, he is going to be a cracking comic actor because he has that twinkle in his eye, and a nice sense of timing.

Timing is a big thing with this production as there is a lot of fast delivery lines, which has been timed really well.

John Birch plays The Reverend, Mr Purefoy, and I am sure that everyone called him "Pureboy", or that may have been my hearing, who knows? John looks and even sounds like he should be a man of the cloth; or it could just be that he is a fine actor!

I loved the set design with its' wide-open front room design, which is where all the action took place, so the only changes were when the teatime props were removed from the table. And there was actual food on the table, no pretending to eat or drink; actual tea in the pot and actual meat and salad with bread and butter on the plates. Realism at its' best and a tick from me for the Director.

Talking of whom, Andy Cook has given us a wonderful matched cast to character as well as a brilliant set design. perfectly fast-paced timing. Can't fault it. Although, something that was out of anyone's control, I did notice that in the second act, the neighbours across the road, through the window seemed to have had a slight problem with subsidence. You probably won't get to see this though.

Sound is by Daniel Andrews with Lighting by Iain Walton.

I must also mention that the programme, which I'd advise to buy (£1) has some wonderful cartoons included, and drawn by Catherine Buckley, and designed by John Birch.

A wonderful piece of comedy with some very witty lines and some brilliantly written, and performed characters.

"Sailor Beware" is at Ravenshead Village Hall until it sets sail on Saturday 18 June.