January 2007
A Bride In The Hand Play Review
Monday, January 01, 2007 by Charles Vance

A farce by Angela Lanyon

Hanbury Plays

ISBN: 185205-315-1 £7.40

(3m 5f) Rights: Hanbury Plays

Angela Lanyon is the Children’s Writer in Residence at the Swan Theatre in Worcester and it is appropriate that this new farce had its debut in that theatre where, we are told, it had audiences “falling off their seats with laughter” (Perhaps slightly hyperbolic, as I have rarely seen a member of an audience fall off his or her seat, but I am confident that the suggestion was well intentioned).

It is indeed a very funny farce and well crafted. Vickie is desperate to get her mother safely married but between her randy boyfriend, a collapsible ironing board, an erotic screen and a mix up over the best man – not to forget an electrician who blows all the fuses – time is running out for them to get to the church on time. Well-meant assistance by the bride’s new-age friend adds further confusion and the discovery of yet another lover brings matters to a head. But an unexpected development resolves the confusion and all is set for a happy ending.

It is well described by its publishers as a classic gem of the farce genre.

Over the past months we have also received from Hanbury Plays a number of plays by Angela Lanyon in her series of Audience Participation Murder Mysteries and whilst we hope to be able to have space to review the latest in the series Sign In For Murder in a future edition of Amateur Stage. May we remind you that the other two titles were reviewed earlier this year : Murder In Rehearsal and A Taste For Murder (August 2006).