Rubery Drama Group's Pools Paradise definitely a winner

Buy photos » Bob Sawyer, Julie Brotherhood and Ian Kimberley-Ryan from Rubery Drama Group on the set of Pools Paradise. s

POOLS Paradise was the perfect production for Rubery Drama Group to do for its 60th anniversary year - it epitomises everything the group has always done well.

The farce by Philip King centres around a vicar in a small village who disapproves of gambling. But, his wife is about to share a large football pools win and tries to keep it from him.

More complications arise when several other characters enter the mix. These include a vicar-fixated female parishioner, a housemaid and her rustic boyfriend, another clergy member who also dabbles in the pools and a local bishop.

The fantastic script has some wonderful lines in it and very strong characters, which, you could see, the excellent cast really enjoyed bringing to life.

Every member of the cast put in a great performance to create a brilliant night of comedy overall that had the audience in hysterics.

Julie Brotherhood was exceptional as former actress and, somewhat eccentric, vicar's wife Penelope Toop - her portrayal, with her body language, facial expressions and delivery of the lines, was excellent.

Timing and chemistry between characters is everything in farcical comedy and her's with Bob Sawyer, who played The Rev Lionel Toop, also very well, was second to none.

Other good performances included Paula Hogarth as Ida the maid and Ian Kimberley-Ryan as Willie Briggs - both got into their roles well and enjoyed some great comedic moments on the stage.

This production by Rubery Drama Group, like those that have gone before it, delighted the audiences.

Pools Paradise was a fantastic story about a massive win and Rubery as a community has certainly hit the jackpot having a drama group as good as this to put bi-annual productions of this calibre on in the village.

The group, which is based at Beacon Church Centre, Whetty Lane, is also on the look-out for new members to be part of its next production, which will take place in the autumn.

For more on the group and becoming a member, call 0121 453 8733 or 0121 445 2323.

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