The tree featured in the backyard was truly a work of art. Set designer Jamie Richards must be commended for his creativity it provided nostalgia and charm.

Support roles were cast well, with Megan Dansie as Edith Pilchester and Norman Caddick as The Brigadier bringing authenticity and humour to their time on the stage. Mariette, the eldest of six children, played by Abby Hampton, has just the right amount of naughtiness to grab the attention of the play’s civil servant and the rest of ensemble of children work well together to create the impression of a happy home life. Tracey Walker breathes life into Ma Larkin a strong willed woman who is prepared to look the other way for the sake of her idyllic farm life, she is a wonderful foil for her boisterous husband and the chemistry is evident. When he and his brood return home from an expedition to buy fish and chips, they are met with an undernourished and timid tax collector named Mr Charlton (Charley) Ron Densley has succeeded in creating a multi-faceted character, his transformation, ever so subtle, is a joy to watch.

The show’s title refers to the opening buds that point to the summer season ahead and to the freshness and exuberance of youth as it turns toward adult maturity.įorget pomp and pretension, Pop Larkin, played superbly by Tim Williams, is rebellious in nature, providing for his family with various dalliances, but he has been remiss in paying income tax. The Therry Dramatic Society, with Hayley Horton at the helm, have produced a delightful tale that follows the comings and goings of the loveable Larkin family, set against a backdrop of rural Kent in the 1950s.

The Therry Dramatic Society (SA) 6 to 15 November, 2014Īlthough author Herbert Ernest Bates wrote The Darling Buds of May in 1958, it has lost none of its charm.

Author of the darling buds of may