Dangerous Corner by JB Priestley Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton Runs until Saturday February 12th THIS JB Priestley masterpiece is perfect for the intimate setting afforded by the compact Forge Theatre within Bolton Little Theatre.
A larger auditorium would definitely detract from the maximum impact Priestley intends with this drama.
However perfect the theatre is though the right setting would be pointless if the cast didn't have the sort of excellent acting skills I was lucky enough to witness last night.
This was amateur acting at its very best - so polished and perfect it would put many professional casts to shame.
The storyline is dramatic from start to finish. This is edge of the seat stuff with plenty of character assassination and the odd assignation thrown in for good measure.
Sitting so close to the action means the audience feels somewhat of a voyeur - watching lives unfold and disintegrate at close hand makes for fascinating, viewing and so real are the performances at time you feel you are watching a real life confession of sins.
But where to start with the accolades? Suffice to say each of the seven cast members brought their own qualities to their individual role and each was faultless. If pushed to pick my favourites it would have to be Peter Scofield as Robert Caplan and Jennifer Lee as his wife.
There is so much intrigue around each and every corner that this production is as fast flowing as it is revealing.
The two intervals do give you the opportunity to pause for breath and then it's back to the heady ride that is Dangerous Corner.
Given that this play is a sell-out may I make the suggestion you take a look at future BLT productions and book yourselves in as soon as possible so as not to be disappointed.
Gayle McBain
