Past productions

THE REAL EDDIE SPENCER

30 November – 9 December 2023

by Keith Orton

When is the right time to tell the truth? In this brand new play, the sudden arrival of Eddie to his son’s home in Australia at Christmas, brings about a chain of events with a few surprises. Eddie is unwell and has a secret which he needs to tell before it’s too late. However, so much is standing in his way, including ghosts of his dead ex-wife and his partner. Will he be able to tell the truth and put things right before it is too late? Will decisions made in the past affect the present? This haunting story loosely based on A Christmas Carol, deals with adult themes and is funny, yet painfully moving, in equal measure.

Cast

Photography by Chris Fenton

Review | December 2023 | Catherine Cronin

Caterham theatregoers were welcomed to a festive treat on the stage of the Miller Centre Theatre this past December with the premiere run of Keith Orton‘s The Real Eddie Spencer. It starred Orton in the titular role and was directed by Natalie Jones, who was also the production’s set designer.

As audience members filed into the Miller Centre for the show’s final matinee, there was a sense of excitement and eagerness in the air. The play had already created a buzz locally and word-of-mouth had, happily, filled many seats in this beautiful venue over the course of the play’s two-week run. Whispers about this piece being moving and “very Christmassy” circulated in the lobby and the crowd was not to be disappointed.

Upon entering the auditorium, audience members were greeted by Jones’ lovely living room set replete with a colourful Christmas tree. Everyone settled in for an afternoon of great performances and beautiful storytelling.

In the play, we are quickly introduced to Eddie Spencer, his son, Rob, and daughter-in-law, Lucy. Eddie is visiting them in Australia for Christmas. But there is tension between Rob (Robin Clark) and Eddie and a suggestion that their relationship has not had the happiest of pasts. Lucy (Juliette Nebel) plays peacemaker and confidant to both men. This family dynamic provides the backdrop to a subtle modern take on A Christmas Carol as our ailing protagonist, Eddie, begins to “hallucinate” ghostly visits from his dead ex-wife, Rob’s mother, Sarah (Sally Bosman), his late though very present love, Jake, (Peter Brown), and his future grandson, Tom, (played in alternate shows by Seb Conroy and Henry Pettitt).

The story sees Eddie forced to confront the loss and hurt he has both caused and endured in his life. Unlike Scrooge, however, Eddie is not guilty of past miserliness in terms of money or kindness, but is guilty of not being emotionally honest with his son or with himself. There is a great sense throughout the play that Eddie’s ghosts are showing him ways to repair his relationship with his son before is too late. Eddie’s success will, in turn, help Lucy and Rob build the family of their dreams. Orton’s story balances the needs and desires of these three characters with great care even when their conflicting memories and resentments threaten the hope of family unity and, harmony (something many can identify with around the festive season!).

The performances are simply brilliant. Keith Orton holds the entire story together with a realistic, yet enchanting performance as a man who experiencing his entire life converge over a short period of time. We believe the urgency of his desperate need to make amends and can feel love and regret in his every intention and action.

Robin Clark and Juliette Nebel have tremendous chemistry as a married couple and demonstrate the beat-perfect comic timing that comes with a couple who are used to one another’s foibles. By extension, Lucy and Eddie are in-laws with a compassionate relationship that serves to highlight the frustrated conflict between Rob and his father. You leave the theatre believing that this is a real family, and especially, that Eddie and Rob are a real father and son grappling with hurt and a sense of having missed opportunities to be closer.

The performances from Sally Bosman, Peter Brown, and, at our show, Seb Conroy, are sensational. Bosman plays a bitter and hurt woman. Brown as Jake takes on a role more akin to Dicken’s merry, albeit more campy, ghost of Christmas present. Tom is the ghost of Christmas future who drip-feeds the idea of Eddie’s demise in a heartbreaking but innocent manner. While this piece was inspired by the Dickens classic, it is never cliché and feels entirely original. In fact, most who see this play may not even make the connection because the narrative here is nuanced, emotionally impactful and utterly compelling in its own unique way.

The direction of this piece and set design are both clever and inviting. Nothing on stage is wasteful and everything serves a purpose. It is beautifully framed and welcomes the audience to feel as though they are part of the family drama. The whole story plays out as a well-orchestrated dance, moving succinctly from Eddie’s ghostly experiences to his real-world ones with great fluidity and ease. And, it should be noted that the lighting design from Emma Christmas was stunning and highly effective throughout the performance. It paired wonderfully with Mike Millsted‘s excellent work on sound and delightfully caught the shimmer and shine in some of the colourful festive costumes.

There are laughs and tears aplenty here. Just as the whispers promised, this play is moving and “very Christmassy”.