Anybody who has ever trod the boards will know of the strict pecking order employed by local amateur operatic/dramatic societies, and this is a fine little drama exploring the same. Colin Welland resisted the temptation to make a comedy out of the romantic 21 year old hero being played by a grey haired man in his fifties, and instead makes a tragi/comedy out of a declining veteran comedian still being given lead roles at the expense of a younger more talented performer.
My only criticism is that the ending, where the youngster, unable to give the old man his final bow, walks off stage, out of the theatre, and presumably out of the society, is a little too down beat.
My only criticism is that the ending, where the youngster, unable to give the old man his final bow, walks off stage, out of the theatre, and presumably out of the society, is a little too down beat.
