Bear Pit brings light and shade into its latest productions
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
White Liars and Black Comedy, by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Richard Sandle-Keynes, Assistant Director Emma Purchase-Rathbone. At The Bear Pit, Stratford-upon-Avon from 13 - 21 March 2026.
Review by Ann Evans.
Two plays – White Liars and Black Comedy both written by the same writer - Peter Shaffer and in total contrast to one another. The performances have a strange start with the cast members from both plays dancing enthusiastically to a 60s song after running in from the back of the auditorium taking everyone by surprise. And then, with the ending of the music, the dancers drift away and we’re left with a rather solemn setting for the first play White Liars.
Baroness Lemberg, (Viv Tomlinson) is a fortune teller with a regal and mysterious background having grown up in Europe although it’s not really clear where she comes from – Germany maybe or Austria. She has a photo of her deceased father, highly decorated, which she talks to a lot, just as she talks to herself a lot. She’s not a happy woman who seems to have fallen on hard times, but she has this mystical gift of being able to tell fortunes which is what she now does, albeit in a little English seaside kiosk at the end of the summer season with very few customers.
Then in walk two young men, Tommy (Artie Dobson) and Frank (Tom Purchase-Rathbone), who are clearly up to something. To start with you think they are out to cause trouble, but far from it, Tommy is a singer and Frank is his manager. They share Frank’s flat - but Frank wants Tommy out of his life because he’s getting too close to the girl he loves, Susan.
Frank’s aim is to try to persuade Baroness Lemberg to tell Tommy’s fortune but give him a warning as to what his future holds if he stays here. This leads to Tommy and Frank talking a lot about their own lives. Between these three characters the lies flow thick and fast. Good acting from all three characters – and gradually the audience learn the truth about all three. As the play draws to a close, more lies than truths have been spoken but no one seems to have benefited from their interaction and there’s no happy ending for any of them.
All three actors play their roles well, and for the Baroness especially she has a tremendous amount to say - long monologue - type of speeches which she delivers well and with passion. The arrival of the dancers swooping back on stage to the music of the Rolling Stones; Paint It Black heralds the end of White Liars and the start of the Black Comedy after the interval.
Black Comedy has the most unusual start to any play that I’ve ever seen! The stage is in darkness. Two actors are there – a couple talking normally, only they are in absolute blackness. To be honest it’s weird and seems to go on for too long. Strangely not being able to see the actors makes it difficult to concentrate – or even care what they are talking about. So, whatever is being discussed at the start is lost (on me at least). Then things change – the stage lights come on but for the characters, they act like they’ve been plunged into darkness – it seems their main fuse has blown and they are groping about in the dark – but finally the audience can see them.
They are frantically looking for candles or matches, anything to give them some glimmer of light. One by one, they are joined by people and the plot unfolds. The couple are Brindsley Miller (Elliot Gear) and Carol Melkett (Rachel Barton-Noakes) who have recently got engaged. They are waiting for a wealthy art dealer (Barry Purchase Rathbone) to call and look at Brindsley’s paintings. However, as Brindsley is a penniless artist, he’s borrowed the neighbour’s posh furniture believing him to be away. Of course, the neighbour Harold Gorringe (Roger Ganner) comes back unexpectedly, but is blissfully unaware his furniture is in the wrong flat – as they are in darkness. Brindsley needs to make sure they stay blacked out, as others arrive with matches and lighters – including the electrician, Schuppanzigh (Steve Bizley) with a torch. In the darkness, they all think he’s the wealthy art dealer!
Also, in comes another neighbour, the timid, tea-total Miss Furnival (Charlotte Froud), who in the darkness mistakes the gin bottle for the tonic water and hilariously gets tipsier by the minute! Meanwhile, the effervescent and slightly gullible Carol (Rachel Barton-Noakes) is joined by her father – Colonel Melkett (Paul Tomlinson), all pompous and stiff upper lipped. While Brindsley has a sneaky visitor – his ex-girlfriend Clea (Isabella James), who wants him back, and nothing is going to stand in her way. Oh, and did I mention while all this chaos is building up momentum, the crafty Brindsley is sneaking the neighbour’s furniture back to its rightful flat, piece by piece. It sounds insane, and it really is funny, with the humour and comedy coming at you in wave after wave.
It’s very clever how this play is produced, timing, lighting, choreography, the stumbles and tangles are all done impeccably and the sillier it gets the funnier it becomes.
Excellent acting by all the cast, and some really rounded and fun characters. After an odd start, the comedy quickly grows on you, and almost has a Norman Wisdom feel to it. Brilliant performance especially by Elliot Gear as Brindsley.
Two contrasting plays in theme and mood, with the Dark Comedy swapping light for dark, and dark for light. Weird – yes! Entertaining – yes! Well acted – absolutely! Great comedy – most definitely! These two plays run until 21 March.
For tickets go to: https://www.thebearpit.org.uk/
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