Viva’s productions are always a delight to see. ‘The Lady in the Van’ by Alan Bennett Viva performed in The Brook on Friday was no

exception. There was something quite magical about this performance. Not only had the characters all been clearly defined, but careful management of pace, diction and action brought the script alive and captured the essential qualities of Alan Bennett’s style perfectly.

Key actors, the older Alan Bennett (played by Daniel White), the younger Bennett (David Blyth) and the Lady in the Van, Mary Shepherd (Mary Barnes) established an easy, credible relationship that never lost strength from the beginning. The skilful writing developed moments of down to earth reality that readily joined other more fanciful ideas. The talent of all of the actors held us right there with events. These amazingly people included the lovely ‘depressed’ Mam (Gail Baker), the caricatured up-and-coming couple Rufus (Jon Bolderson) and Pauline (Emma Moat) and the excruciatingly ‘sympathetic’ Social Worker (Kate Weekes). Other essential and effective contributions were made by Underwood (Frank Crosby), Leo Fairchild (Vaughan Moll), Lout (Scott Robertson), Miss Shepherd’s doctor (Geoff Fisher), Interviewer and Mam’s doctor(Sarah Boor), Interviewer (Emily Docwra) and Priest and ambulance man (Lars Carr). Mention should also be made of the singing coach (Sophie Plachcinski) who produced such a wonderfully realistic, natural but imperfect singing from the symbolic motley crowd that opened and closed the show.

The witty jokes and philosophic words of wisdom were invariably appreciated. Some of these gems had us laughing out loud, making the ghastly thought of having a dirty, unkempt, slightly off-key old lady park in your garden and march into your house making demands, just one of those things that can happen. As Bennett says, he thought that having someone like this taking over your life made you mark time, but no, time marks you.

Of course, as always, the support people gave to the production helped make it such a success: with wonderful props, scenery, costumes, lighting, sound and back and front stage arrangements.

Congratulations must go to director and producer David Moat and associate producer James Wood for such a fantastic production. This was an excellent production and it was no wonder that Friday night was sold out so soon.

Viva’s next production ‘Shakers’ runs from February 9 to 11. Visit www.viva-group.org.uk/current-events.html