Tuesday 6 November 2012

Tregaer Man Treads the Boards in Feel Good Comedy

David Leigh from Tregaer is bringing out his naughty side when he plays a rascally grandfather in the play ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ at the Dolman Theatre in Newport next week.
David Leigh as rascally grandfather Gus fails to 
impress Dee Dee (Catherine Morgan) with his singing.
(PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)

“This is the first time I’ve done any amateur dramatics since I was at Durham University in the 1960s and I’m enjoying it immensely,” says 69-year-old David who plays the part of Gus in the comedy which is being presented by Newport Playgoers.

“Gus is fiercely resisting his son’s efforts to put him in a retirement home and prefers learning the latest dance moves from his grand-daughter Dee Dee. Being a grandfather myself, I have sympathy with the character – but I deny sharing his wackier and naughtier tendencies! It’s a very funny play so the challenge in rehearsals has been not to laugh.”


David (second from left) with the cast of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’:
 Catherine Morgan (Dee Dee), Lyndon House (Leonard) 
and Nicky Davies (Harriet). (PHOTO: PHIL MANSELL)
The play, written by Simon Williams, has a plotline reminiscent of the Dustin Hoffman film ‘Tootsie’. Gus’s son, Leonard, is frustrated writer who has all his books rejected by a feminist publishing house because he is a man. However, when he submits a novel based on his experiences as a single parent under the pseudonym Myrtle Banbury, the editor, Harriet, loves it. The snag is she insists on meeting Myrtle so she can hand over the prize money and sign her up. In order to collect the money, Leonard is forced to dress up as a woman. 

“As Gus, I go along with deception – for a price,” says David. “The play is a marvellous comedy in the tradition of ‘Charley’s Aunt and ‘Some Like It Hot’’. It’s been acclaimed as a classic feel-good romantic comedy and offers belly laughs galore – with four irresistibly loveable characters locked into a hilarious plot. The final scene has been described as a comic masterpiece.”

David has been keen to get back into acting in amateur productions since he retired from his career in the conservation of cultural heritage a few years ago.

“Joining Newport Playgoers attracted me because of the scale and the thoroughness of their approach.  A company which runs its own 400-seat theatre and mounts eight full-length plays a year has to be taken seriously. I was chuffed that they let me through the auditions!”

You can see David in Newport Playgoers’ production of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ by Simon Williams at the Dolman Theatre from 14th – 17th November at 7.15 pm, with an extra matinee performance on the Saturday at 2.30 pm. To book tickets call 01633 263670 or visit www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.  New members are always welcome to become involved both onstage and behind the scenes.