Sandcastles at the Bob Hope Theatre Review
Oh! I do like the be beside the seaside! I do like to be beside the sea!
Picture this: a quentissential British beach in summer. Blue skies, sea stretching out to the horizon, the pier, arcades and the famous beach huts standing in a row. We often pass by the huts on our walks or in our hurry to find our own section of the beach. But have you ever really thought about the owners of the beach huts? Or about who is entitled to the sand directly in front of them?
These are the questions posed in ‘Sand Castles’, a play by Bob Larbey, based on an idea of Trisha Larbey’s, and directed by Simon Ward. Bob Larbey is the co-writer of some famous British comedy series including ‘The Good Life’.
The play follows two couples who have owned their beach huts for years. They return every summer to enjoy their slice of paradise and have become very accustomed to ruling this section of the beach. Much to their horror, the middle beach hut has been rented to people who do not care about the unwritten rules and just want to have fun in the sun. Add in some passerby’s, aka ‘riff raff’, who feel the need to challenge the status quo through a stake-out, and you get a comedy about the British class system and one up-manship.
This was the first out of four performances, and the cast did a good job, with the stand out being Stan (Bryan Randall), one of the beach hut owners. The sets were simple but effective, and the music between scenes transported the audience to summer activities. My favourites were ‘let’s go fly a kite’ and Acker Bilk’s ‘Stranger on the Shore’. At times it took a while for the play to move along, but stick with it and you’ll get a few chuckles and an enjoyable night. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Reviewer: Caitlin Neal
‘Sand Castles’ is performing at the Bob Hope Theatre, Eltham, on 29th and 30th June and 1st July at 7:45pm. Tickets are £12 with concessions available. Tickets can be purchased through the box office on 020 8850 3702 or online at www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk