The Killing Of Sister George - Theatre Review

The Killing of Sister George
Blakehay Theatre
Weston-Super-Mare


I’ll admit to wandering into this one without too much of a clue as to what it’s all about, with part of me convinced that the titular character’s prefix referred to the fact she was a nun. Well, she’s not (although nuns to come into it in some way), she’s a district nurse in 1965, pootling around on her moped, dispensing wisdom and cure alls to the residents of Applehurst. Except it’s not. What we are treated to is the story of the actress who plays Sister George in the long running (and obviously Archers inspired) radio series set in the titular village. June Buckridge lives in a London flat with her younger “companion” Alice, and the play focuses on their relationship, which is rocked when June (or “George” as everyone calls her) suspects she is to be written out after six years as the shows most beloved character.

The entire play takes place in the couple’s flat, and contains only four characters, all female. As well as George and Alice, there’s Mrs Mercy from the BBC and their downstairs neighbour, a psychic called Madame Xenia. The story is handled at a sedate pace over a couple of hours and whilst initially the audience is horrified by George’s treatment of Alice, it becomes apparent that the relationship is dysfunctional on both sides. Jeremy Kyle would love these two, and would probably rant that they shouldn’t even be together.

Local theatre groups like the Blakehay Actor’s Company can come in for unfair prejudice as those who haven’t seen them might assume they are not “proper” actors. If nothing else, this and previous show “Misery” have shown me that this lot are every bit as proper as any flouncing mimsy from the West End. The same goes for the backroom staff, as the single set looks excellent, boosted by some very creative sound effects. For me, the best performance came from Jennifer Ann Hart as Madame Xenia, who takes the characters comic relief overtones and totally inhabits her as a living, breathing person. This isn’t easy to do when you’re lumped with an East European accent and enough beads to keep the catholic Church busy for a decade. As the titular Sister George, Gaye Shepherd has to run the gamut of emotions and voices, as the rough and ready June often slips into her radio character, mostly when she’s looking for a bit of sympathy from someone. She gives a worthy leading performance, channelling Bette Davis and Tony Hancock in equal measure. Special mention must go to Francis Iles as Mrs Mercy, who manages to get that mid 1960s BBC snobbery down to a T, with a cut glass accent bubbling with received pronunciation. Last is Rebecca Fuller as Alice, who pulls of the job admirably, but is the only cast member who appears to be acting, if you see what I mean. Whilst the other three seem like they ARE their characters, Alice often looks like she is being performed, rather than that she is actually there before us.

“The Killing Of Sister George” is yet another fine piece of theatre, and the company get full marks for the show. It’s a great story full of high drama and no little comedy, and I can see why it was so challenging for some of the straight laced audiences in the 1960s. With that said, there’s nothing here that would offend anyone other than those who shouldn’t be allowed out in the first place, and I heartily recommend that any Blakehay virgins get themselves down to see just what the locals can do if they put their minds to it.