Fondly Remembered Brings Laughs to the Tabard
Susan Stanley-Carroll enjoys a beautifully acted play with top notch direction
The full cast of Fondly Remembered. Picture: Charles Flint
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May 25, 2024
First produced ten years ago, and performed several times since then in the U.K, “Fondly Remembered” is a beautifully acted and well-directed comedy that is now on at the Theatre at the Tabard until Saturday 7th June.
The cast of this production are all outstanding professional actors. Most of them are, surprisingly, of pensionable age and thus have long and fascinating credits that you can read in the programme. Probably, you have seen many of them in the West End, on television or at the cinema.
The plot concerns a group of thespian friends meeting the vicar of a High Anglican church to discuss the programme for the Memorial Service of Douglas. They all knew him well: they know each other well and we enjoy watching them continue to develop their relationships.
Gareth Armstrong’s witty, nuanced script is bursting with insightful moments about the deceased. Peals of laughter filled the auditorium on Thursday night as the many surprising twists and turns kept every one absorbed and on the edge of their seats for 90 minutes.
The charismatic cast is headed by the brilliant Jeremy Booth (last seen at the Tabard in, “A Critical Stage”). He plays the Rev Thomas Haldane, an ex-city slicker who drives a Porsche and he opens the play. Holy Smoke! What an opening: Jeremy sets the mood and the rest of the cast carry on with lashings of gusto.
Barbara Wilshere plays the emotional Cressida Brent. She is delightful as she recalls tearfully her complicated relationship with Dennis and tries, at the same time, to sort his memorial programme.
Robin Kermode (Donald Sowerby) however revels in winding up his ‘old friends’. His electric blue eyes twinkle with wicked glee and his performance is riveting. Donald is a tough cookie and his acerbic asides can be quite wounding to his old friends.
Rosemary Ashe, a West End star, is a hoot at portraying with aplomb Zoe, a bitter sweet soap character, and recalling her friendship with Dennis. She delights the audience with a flow of malapropisms.
William Relton (Barry Dumont), besotted by his young rich Russian husband, who we never meet, adds many touching foibles to his character, and recalls yet another aspect of the deceased Dennis.
Rosemary Ashe Barbara Wilshere and William Relton. Picture: Charles Flint
The production is smoothly managed by a team of imaginative creatives including: lighting Simon Beyer, music - Simon Slater, - costumes - Bolu Dairo, and is deftly written and directed by Gareth Armstrong.
A true feel good play that was greeted with great whoops of approval from the lively first night audience - certainly a stunning summer show that will add an extra ‘je’ne sais quoi’ to the start of The Bedford Park Festival on the 7th June. Maybe I’ll see you there and wave to you from my dodgem car!
Susan Stanley-Carroll
The limited four week run is from Wednesday 22 May to Saturday 15 June. On the first three days, tickets for preview performances cost £19.50 or £15.50 for concessions. Then from 25 May to 7 June, prices rise to £23.50/£19.50 and then to £25.50/£21.50.
Running time approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, includes a 15 minute interval.
You can book all productions online on the Tabard Theatre web site or call the box office on 020 8995 6035 (leave a message if you can't get through and your call will be returned).
Theatre at the Tabard is at 2 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LW).
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