Edward Alderton Theatre Home | News | This Season | Next Season | Bookings | Auditions | Members | Archive | History | Location | Links | Contact Us   Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray Directed by Christina White 7-14 July 1984 (7 performances) Simon Hench is witty, urbane, sophisticated, selfish and accustomed to keeping himself at a graceful distance from the messy distractions of his family and friends. He has a problem, though – well, several actually – only he just doesn't know it yet. As Simon settles in for a quiet Saturday night with his new recording of Wagner's Parsifal, he is besieged by a steady stream of unwelcome visitors, and his usually cool demeanor begins to buckle as life finally catches up with him... Cast Simon Hench Steve Marshall Dave Paul Castle Stephen Hench Paul Lay Jeff Golding Tony Donnelly Davina Saunders Carol La Roche Wood David Hampton Beth Sue Higginson Crew Stage Manager Joanne Colyer Assistant Stage Manager Janet Henderson Set Design Steve Marshall, Chris White Lighting  John Moore Sound Keith Dungate   Review Pity they were not otherwise engaged! Last week's play at the Edward Alderton Theatre, Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray, was billed as a comedy. The evening turned out to be a tragedy — a tragedy that a group of fine actors, well directed, should have wasted their work and our evening on a play of squalid trivia. No playwright is clever enough to present a set of characters who are all unpleasant, because audiences need to have someone on the stage with whom they can identify. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be identified with any of the parts in Otherwise Engaged. Or with the dialogue which seemed to be intended to shock, with frequent references to promiscuous sex and obscenities and dirt sprayed around like mucking time on fields. It was interesting to notice that the audience of 50 to 60 was sharply divided in age. Rather less than half were teenagers or in their early 20s (and giggles came mainly from the youngest of this group); the majority were in the over-50s, most of whom appeared to be regular patrons. And they were not amused. Though I disliked the play, I have nothing but praise for the acting and presentation. It was so good that I presumed (wrongly) the cast were professionals. Movements, gestures and timing were all up to high standards, and the actors had involved themselves completely in the characters. Director Christina White had done an excellent job. Steve Marshall was Simon Hench, round whom the action revolves. His deadpan expression as he observed the antics and confusions of the others suggested a masterful control, and possibly an unpleasant sense of superiority. Paul Castle acted the part of a gawky, selfish student, taking and never giving; a familiar figure in modern plays. Paul Lay as a public schoolmaster racked with doubt (!) provided some comedy, and David Hampton, as one of life's failures, added blackness to comedy. Tony Donnelly had the unpleasant task of presenting the most disgusting character of the play, and did it very conscientiously. Carol La Roche played another thoroughly unpleasant character, ruthlessly exploiting other people's weaknesses. Sue Higginson had a short part as Simon's wife whose parting shot finally punctures his self-esteem C B D Kentish Times | 19 July 1984

All photographs (c) Paul Lay and not to used without permission