Saving Ardley


The Courier and Advertiser - May 2003

SAVING ARDLEY
Review

DUNDEE DRAMATIC Society has chosen the comedy Saving Ardley, by Tudor Gates, as its final productions of the season.

Lucy, Lady Ardley, very elegantly portrayed by Alma Donald, finds that, very much against her will, she is being forced to sell her beloved home to cover death duties, maintenance costs &c.

Her rebellious daughter Lady Selina, however, is determined to fight tooth and nail not to lose her inheritance and Tricia Stewart brings just the right level of upper-class haughtiness and voice to this part.

As her adversary in the fight for possesion, Jonathan Gall is well cast as Teddy Scott, the streetwise entrepeneur determined to bring about the downfall of the aristocratic ownership of the manor and turning it into luxury flats. which sparks off many bouts of point-scoring between this young couple.

The only remaining members of downstairs staff still employed in the manor are well played by Ian Stephen as Morton, the very epitome of good butling, and Betty Milne as Mrs Simmons, the cook.

The cast is completed by a comic characterisation of Miss Pomfret, the eccentric neighbour, dottily played by Kathleen Mochan.

Ward McGaughrin and his team have designed an excellent set for this play which is directed by Harry Devine and runs until Saturday at the Little Theatre.



The Evening Telegraph - May 2003

CAST EXCELS IN BATTLE TO SAVE ARDLEY MANOR
Review by Jan Souter

The curtain rises and we are in the drawing-room of an old, but once majestic Georgeian house, for Dundee Dramatic Society's final production of the season, writes Jan Souter.

It is in the drawing-room as the sole incumbent, Lucy, Lady Ardley (gracefully played by Alma Donald), prepares to meet a representative of prospective buyers ( a confident Jonathan Gall).

She is resigned to having to sell her some, to pay off death duties in respect of her late husband - but not so her rebellious daughter Selina (the vibrant Tricia Stewart), a champion of lost causes, who is determined not to lose out on her inheritance.

As we settle in our seats, our attention is turned to the task od 'Saving Ardley', no mean burden given the teetering condition of Lady A's stately pile, which once boasted a full 'downstairs' staff.

Now only the butler, Cyril Morton (to the manner born Ian Stephen) and cookMrs Simmons ( a not so demure Betty Milne) remain.

Surprises and twists abound as the battle for Ardley unfolds, with eccentric neighbour Miss Pomfret (Kathleen Mochan) flitting in and out in her potty persuit of wildlife.

This wordy comedy, perhaps too wordy in parts, has wonderful characters superbly portrayed by an experienced cast.

It was specially written by Tudor Gates for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to be performed by amateur dramatic groups around the world to support WWF's conservation work.

So why not help boost the charity - and get pleasure from doing so.

Saving Ardley is directed by Harry Devine and the excellent set designed by Ward McGaughrin.

The play runs at the theatre nightly, at 7.30pm, until Saturday.

© D C Thomson & Co., Ltd 2003

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