While The Sun Shines by Terence Rattigan, Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth until 7 September 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: Cormac Richards

"An utter delight."

Sometimes it is so refreshing to discover a play one has neither read nor seen on stage and Terence Rattigan’s 1943 comedy, ‘While The Sun Shines’ is just such a play to this reviewer. First appearing the year after the writers’ hit ‘Flare Path’ it is something the polar opposite of the serious wartime drama; a light relief for audiences in the darkest of times.

This utterly charming story of the wealthy young Earl of Harpenden getting into a bit of a pickle on the eve of his wedding to Lady Elizabeth Randall is a delight. The situation is made complicated by the appearance of an American and a Frenchman, a former girlfriend and his future father-in-law – uncompromising positions, mistaken identities and a script littered with wit and topicality, makes an irresistible cocktail.

The action takes place in the Earl’s apartment in London; a richly furnished and decorated set with sumptuous fixtures and fittings, the walls hung with plenty of art; as a backdrop to both the action and to Jan Huckle’s wonderful period costume designs, you couldn’t want for better.

Brandon Eady inhabits the role of Harpenden like a second skin, so adept is he at the witty aside, the childlike frustration and the loss of composure; an actor of great breadth and depth. Katherine Dodds is poise and elegance personified and uses her face to the most wonderful effect, she can do ‘browned off’ and ‘overjoyed’ at the flick of a switch. The battling Lieutenants have the most wonderful roles to get their teeth into. Gwithian Evans is all American bravado as airman Mulvaney; an impeccable accent is matched with a performance of great confidence and flair; Charlie Bryant’s French Officer, Colbert, whose seductive French strains are just part of the beautifully pitched character. The two officers make for an utterly compelling double act. James Pellow is equally at home as The Duke of Ayr and Stirling (a role he played in the 2011 Sidmouth Summer Season); blustering here and there with moments of faux outrage as he tries to take the moral high ground, only failing to do so as his love of gambling comes to the fore – a wonderful role given a showcase. Laura Mead, as the Earl’s floozie-like former girlfriend, Mabel Crum, ensures that this potentially one-dimensional character is much more than that; a tart with a heart maybe; the rather beautiful resolution to the story, orchestrated by Mabel is so tender. Flitting around with apartment with a combination of frustration and eye-rolling observation is Horton, the Earl’s manservant, played with a comic  glint in his eye by Andrew Truluck.  This is a cast in perfect harmony and it is a joy to behold.

Making his Sidmouth debut, director Jack McCann ensures that the, sometimes, wordy Rattigan play fairly bowls along; the comic observations and the razor-sharp repartee are executed with panache. A stylish and captivating production.

‘While the Sun Shines’ is an utter delight and another highlight of the 2024 Summer Play Festival at Sidmouth.

Cast

Horton – Andrew Truluck

The Earl of Harpenden – Brandon Eady

Lieutenant Mulvaney – Gwithian Evans

Lady Elizabeth Randall – Katherine Dodds

The Duke of Ayr and Stirling – James Pellow

Lieutenant Colbert – Charlie Bryant

Mabel Crum – Laura Mead

Creatives

Writer – Terence Rattigan

Director – Jack McCann

Design – Andrew Beckett

Lighting & Sound Operation – James Prendergast

Costume Designer – Jan Huckle

Set Builders – Rhys Cannon & James Prendergast

Props Supervisor - James Prendergast

Artistic Director - Paul Taylor-Mills

Season Associate Producer – Andrew Beckett