The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard

Directed by Karen Blunden

CAST

MOON - Alex Carter

BIRDBOOT - Luke Punt

MRS DRUDGE - Ashtyn Roworth

SIMON - Ben Carter

FELICITY - Orla Williams

CYNTHIA - Robyn Thomas

MAGNUS - Korey Grierson

INSPECTOR HOUND - Zoe Ainsworth

20 & 21 May 2022

This was the first play in our May 2022 double bill.

Our youth theatre group all produced "first rate" performances as reported on by Lance Milton in his NODA Review.

NODA Review of The Real Inspector Hound and A Cold Supper Behind Harrods - 21/5/22

It was truly wonderful to see two one act plays together, but more importantly to see the youth theatre company and the adult company working together. The two plays were 'The Real Inspector Hound' by Tom Stoppard and directed by Karen Blunden, followed by ' A Cold Supper Behind Harrods' by David Morley, Directed by Malcolm Harrington and Sheila Nye.

Firstly it was the youth theatre groups chance to shine in The Real Inspector Hound. Director Karen Blunden went all out with the stylistic staging. Every member of the youth group shone out with incredible presence and great volume without the need for microphones. Tom Stoppard's play is simultaneously hilarious and a who-done-it. It follows the story of two theatre critics, Moon and Birdboot, as they go to a play in London. Concurrently, we trace the plot arc of the theatre critics and the narrative arc of the murder mystery play that they are assigned to review. So, it is a play-within-a-play. By the end of the play, the two narratives become entangled and are nearly impossible to separate. It would be almost impossible to separate or single out any of the fabulous cast as they gave it 100%. Alex Carter, Luke Punt, Ashtyn Roworth, Ben Carter, Orla Williams, Robyn Thomas, Korey Grierson and Zoe Ainsworth were all first rate. If I had to share a laugh out loud moment it would be when Mrs. Drudge was pouring out the teas, as it was hilarious and the timing was perfect.

A thoroughly great afternoon at Henfield.

Lance Milton