A Bitter and Twisted Cocktail - A Delightful Evening of Witty Script and Gilbert & Sullivan Songs

 Claire Johnston, Tim Johnston and Patricia Head. Photo by Patrick Baldwin.

A Bitter and Twisted Cocktail by Tim Johnson, performed by Consensus Opera at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 22 - 24 October 2024.

Review by Charles Essex

 Alexis, the head of a brewing family has died and where there’s a will there’s a relative.  The family assemble for the reading of the will, which has been stolen and Inspector Lawless [David Coulson], who was the executor, is called upon to investigate.  Using a very simple set of a table and two chairs, events [I won't say action, as there was no action as such] take place in an exclusive hotel on the French Riviera in 1935. 

Tim Johnson, who directed the play, wrote the script using songs from the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan and clearly has an exceptional knowledge of their work.  He put together a sensational evening’s entertainment with a light touch and much humour.  Hoping to inherit were Claire Johnson as Evelyn, who had a wonderful soprano voice and was an operatic diva in the best possible sense. Her acting, gestures and mannerisms were clearly appreciated by this audience in all her solos. Patricia Head as Frances, sister of Alexis, who was also hoping for a slice of the cake, sang and acted her parts really well, bringing glamour and liveliness to a role which she performed with assurance.

Ted [Tim Johnson], whose father had died in mysterious circumstances, had become Company Secretary, and Lester [Paul Mocroft] was a film actor of dubious ability who had been lent money by Alexis’s widow Doris [Joan Self]. When Doris threatened their hopes for an inheritance, they all had a motive to try to murder her. 

David Coulson and Tim Johnston. Photo by Patrick Baldwin.

All the cast sang terrifically well both in solo parts and in harmony. David, who often spoke to the fourth wall with humorous malapropisms, was a wonderful baritone.  Joan, who portrayed the curmudgeonly Doris convincingly, had a strong singing voice but there were times her speaking voice was less audible. 

The plot was rather complicated but the script allowed Tim and Paul to give us expositions which cleverly moved the plot along.  At times the acting was almost caricatured but this added to the enjoyment of the performance. The pianist Rachel Bird was outstanding throughout.

Although there were some first night stumbles needing the intervention of the prompt, the feel-good nature of the evening meant this brought some light-hearted laughter from this almost full house.

Tickets from www.thebearpit.org.uk