Reporter: Colin Meredith
Date online: 12/06/2008

St Ann’s Players decided to present two individual but related one act plays for their Summer production. Last Tango at St Ann’s is about the dilemma facing many amateur societies, falling membership.

This one act play by David Tristram is about the local Amateur Dramatic Society whose numbers have dwindled to just four members. At their production meeting they realise that audiences are falling and if they don't come up with some rent money soon, they're going to be thrown out.

They attempt to revive their flagging audiences by staging a sex comedy. There's only one thing that sells tickets these days argues Gordon the Chairman. Sex! Don't panic, nobody's got to do anything embarrassing. We just make them think they do. The posters for the play will state a simple warning: ADULTS ONLY! THIS PLAY CONTAINS SCENES OF NUDITY WHICH MAY SHOCK OR OFFEND.... then when they flock in we give them a nice little farce! And no one will complain, because they'll all be far too embarrassed to admit that that's why they came! The other three members of the society react at first with horror, however when the news spreads and the ticket bookings soar (even the vicar wants to bring a group), they start to relish the idea of casting off their inhibitions. They soon find themselves with the biggest audience in the society's history.

Ian Mansfield played the director with great zest and together with Michaela Mansfield as Joyce, Andy Mckay as Bernard, Lynda Kent as Margaret, director Brian Haworth produced an hilarious farce for an appreciative audience.

The second act was another one act play by David Tristam 'Last panto at St Ann’s' in which the same four characters produce their own Pantomime, in this case a sexy version of Puss in Boots. Once again the cast of four produced a fast paced comedy which included an hilarious pantomime horse and a cat. The audience at St Ann’s played their part and responded to the exhausting efforts of the excellent four strong cast.

Last Tango at St Ann's & Last Panto at St Ann's by David Tristam
St Anne's Players
Parish Hall, Brocklebank Road, Rochdale
Friday 19 May 2006