3rd Age Critic Review by Marcia Humphries Say it With Flowers (preview, Sherman Theatre 16th May)

An evening of sheer showbiz at the Sherman!The audience included people who had known and worked with Dorothy Squires,even some who had lived at her lavish homes in the good times.Both the play's authors were present, mingling beforehand and giving an enlightening question and answer session afterwards.The effect of the production was to make you forget you were seeing a play at all. It was more like being allowed to peek into the life of someone going from rags to riches back to rags. The setting is the typical Trebanog house supplied by a loyal fan when the star no longer had a home. from there she looks back on it all, showing not warm gratitude but an often foul-mouthed contempt,in her certainty that she will make another comeback.

What a life La Squires led, driven by ambition and belief in her talent. She left her Pontyberem family as a teenager,without telling them she was going to London,once there,gatecrashing her way to an audition and getting a job. Fame followed, then marriage to one of the planet's most handsome men,Roger Moore,America, mansions in England,losingit all including him,a house fire from which she rescued his love letters,her next home flooded,years of addiction to litigation until the courts banned her, and finally living off the kindness of her fans.

Ruth Madoc captured the older Dot, still rather grand,though fading, and from the opening scene the likeness was striking.Throughout the play, she subtly showed increasing physical frailty,dressed as a star yet moving and reacting like any failing old lady.

The action proceeded on a split stage. The main section was the typical Valleys (Trebanog)home so generously provided by devoted fan Maisie (an outstanding performance by Lynn Hunter).The smaller section served as nightclub and stage venues for the younger Dorothy (Gillian Kirkpatrick, who those who had known her said was uncannily like her). The audience was seeing into the memories of the woman who had done it all.This was achieved by having the older Dot on one part of the stage remembering events the young Dot was living through on the other. This was surprisingly believable; the two actresses seamlessly blending with even their singing voices seeming younger and more mature versions of the same voice.

Every inch of the set was used to the full.They even used the orchestra pit, though the sex scene there was too long and too graphic.When Dot's late brother Freddie (a sterling performance from Aled Pedrick) appeared out of her memory, he sometimes made his entrance from under the furniture. Scene changes were performed before our very eyes by the cast, but it just added to that feeling we were all in this experience together.

Niece Emily (Heledd Gwynn) was played as a flimsy character, entirely overshadowed by her Aunt and not looked after by her, as her father (who died at 35)had asked. Yet one of her scenes in ActII gives a telling insight into the priorities of the Star. Her singing was paramount, coming before any consideration of friends and family, except perhaps for Roger Moore (languidly played by Matt Nalton). He was her love and her Achille's heel and at the end, we saw him say it with flowers...delivered to her hospital bed.

If you're a Dorothy Squires fan,do not miss this. If you've hardly heard of her but are interested in human nature, this is for you. If you love good theatre, you will love this play.

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