Bacon Sandwich

The aftermath of pre-wedding stag and hen parties was where the audience found themselves whilst watching Bacon Sandwich, a new comedy at the Coach House Theatre in Malvern this week. A laugh out loud first Act saw Wendy the vegetarian bride and her floosey bridesmaid Emma find themselves locked on a cummuter train with a ball and chain problem to solve, whilst gagging groom Greg has his best man, wise-cracking Ben, a hangover and a dress to contend with, and that’s before they get out of their police cell. With the odds stacked against our four characters at the start of the play, the question that permneates is whether they will make it to the church at all, thankfully however the writer, Bristol-based Tim Massey gives us just as witty an Act two, where truths are revealed over a train station buffet and the eponymous bacon sandwich. Slickly directed by Murray Andrews, the minimal set and ‘split screen’ effect in Act one gave a momentum and clarity to the piece that was most engaging, and gave the talented cast ample scope to play.  As neurotic Wendy, Sophie McLellan shone, giving us a rounded, opinionated, headache of a woman who I would hate to meet. As her Bridesmaid Emma, Suzie Davis portrayed the ladette of current culture giving us a disturbing speech of conquests laced with laughs.  Youthful Marcus DeLorenzo had the biggest laughs of the night, but despite the bravado of his binge-drinking best man also managed to show us the self confidence issues of the character, needed to keep him from being one dimensional. Jon T. Scott, seemingly at home in a dress, showed us the inevitability of a man destined to undertake a life under the thumb, and his Illness and recovery from the 'fun' of his stag party was both grusome and hillarious.  It was nice to see this play well attended, and the audience appreciative of new writing. More of this please.  George Hope

George Hope, Malvern