Straight and Narrow
May 2023
Written by Jimmie Chinn
Directed by Jo Godman & Kerry Bailey
Cast List
Bob
Josh Webb
Jeff
Ryan Caston
Vera
Linda Brown
Lois
Lauren Bassett
Bill
Dean Caston
Nona
Faye Wyatt
Arthur
Larry Davis
Terri
Louise Giddings
Stage Manager
Hugh Bailey
Asst Stage Manager
Carol Bolden
Set Construction
Hugh Bailey, Geoff Bolden, Al Godman, Larry Davis,
Brian Redding, Phill Willing, Linda Brown, Kerry Bailey, and Jo Godman
Prompt
Joe Pritchett
Props
Leigh Redding
Lighting & Sound
Matt Micallef
Costumes
Sourced via the Oasthouse Wardrobe and cast members
NODA Review
11th May 2023
I feel very proud of RaTS to have produced 'Straight and Narrow,' firstly in 2000,23 years ago when LGBT wasn't even around then (by that title). I saw this play at 'Above the Stag,' and RaTS latest production is much better.
Set in the 1980s (which I can remember vividly being a gay man), Bob and Jeff are returning from two weeks away in Malta. Bob's family are at their home for lunch ready to welcome them home. Unfortunately, something went awry on the holiday and Bob and Jeff are in the middle of a blazing row. His elder sister, Nona (Faye Wyatt) is in a state of constant tears as her husband has run off with a shop assistant from Boots, and Bob's other sister, the very pregnant Lois (Lauren Bassett) tries to keep the peace, which isn't easy with the battle axe of their mother Vera (Linda Brown) always sticking her oar in. This play covers all scenarios and set-ups in a couple's gay life, happy and sad, one minute you are laughing and the next you are welling up. Joanna Godman and Kerry Bailey brought Jimmie Chinn's play to their audience and made gay life come to life, obviously a lot of the audience would not know about gay life, The passion that Joanna and Kerry have directed in this play is foremost and it will make their audiences sit up and think. Well done to both of you, not easy with the subject of this great piece of theatre.
Bob (Josh Webb) takes most of the dialogue, directing a lot of it to the audience and does this with ease, a very confident actor, his nuances are just perfect, he could have gone over the top portraying a gay man. but Josh got it spot on.
Jeff (Ryan Caston) - what a talent this young man is, Ryan can turn his emotions in a part whether it be happy or sad, but as Jeff it's more sadness for him, he wants children. Not possible way back then in the 80s. Today it's a different story. Ryan is the perfect choice for the part of Jeff.
Vera (Linda Brown) playing the bossy mother, gave a strong performance as Vera not knowing here son is gay. This was the case way back then and Linda keep true to this situation.
Lois (Lauren Bassett) and Nona(Faye Wyatt) worked well together as the sisters, protecting their gay brother. Lauren, a young actor, took the pregnant Lois to new heights - not easy for such a young actor, well done. Nona (Faye Wyatt) showed her vulnerability as the wife of Arthur (Larry Davis), the straight husband. Bill (Dean Caston - a very competent actor), the butch husband of Lois, Bill gave us a solid performance of I don't give a bugger.
Set built by the cast was in period for the 80s as were the properties, all up to the Stage management of Hugh Bailey.
Thank you RaTS for bringing this splendid gay play to the Oast, for the second time, You took this delicate subject of the 80s to fruition, and I hope you made your audiences to sit up and think what it was like way back then, It certainly was directed well by Jo and Kerry covering all emotions of being gay way back .
Gordon Harris,
NODA rep. District 5/6
I feel very proud of RaTS to have produced 'Straight and Narrow,' firstly in 2000,23 years ago when LGBT wasn't even around then (by that title). I saw this play at 'Above the Stag,' and RaTS latest production is much better.
Set in the 1980s (which I can remember vividly being a gay man), Bob and Jeff are returning from two weeks away in Malta. Bob's family are at their home for lunch ready to welcome them home. Unfortunately, something went awry on the holiday and Bob and Jeff are in the middle of a blazing row. His elder sister, Nona (Faye Wyatt) is in a state of constant tears as her husband has run off with a shop assistant from Boots, and Bob's other sister, the very pregnant Lois (Lauren Bassett) tries to keep the peace, which isn't easy with the battle axe of their mother Vera (Linda Brown) always sticking her oar in. This play covers all scenarios and set-ups in a couple's gay life, happy and sad, one minute you are laughing and the next you are welling up. Joanna Godman and Kerry Bailey brought Jimmie Chinn's play to their audience and made gay life come to life, obviously a lot of the audience would not know about gay life, The passion that Joanna and Kerry have directed in this play is foremost and it will make their audiences sit up and think. Well done to both of you, not easy with the subject of this great piece of theatre.
Bob (Josh Webb) takes most of the dialogue, directing a lot of it to the audience and does this with ease, a very confident actor, his nuances are just perfect, he could have gone over the top portraying a gay man. but Josh got it spot on.
Jeff (Ryan Caston) - what a talent this young man is, Ryan can turn his emotions in a part whether it be happy or sad, but as Jeff it's more sadness for him, he wants children. Not possible way back then in the 80s. Today it's a different story. Ryan is the perfect choice for the part of Jeff.
Vera (Linda Brown) playing the bossy mother, gave a strong performance as Vera not knowing here son is gay. This was the case way back then and Linda keep true to this situation.
Lois (Lauren Bassett) and Nona(Faye Wyatt) worked well together as the sisters, protecting their gay brother. Lauren, a young actor, took the pregnant Lois to new heights - not easy for such a young actor, well done. Nona (Faye Wyatt) showed her vulnerability as the wife of Arthur (Larry Davis), the straight husband. Bill (Dean Caston - a very competent actor), the butch husband of Lois, Bill gave us a solid performance of I don't give a bugger.
Set built by the cast was in period for the 80s as were the properties, all up to the Stage management of Hugh Bailey.
Thank you RaTS for bringing this splendid gay play to the Oast, for the second time, You took this delicate subject of the 80s to fruition, and I hope you made your audiences to sit up and think what it was like way back then, It certainly was directed well by Jo and Kerry covering all emotions of being gay way back .
Gordon Harris,
NODA rep. District 5/6
We were also delighted to welcome Peter Slater to this production. Peter was the partner of the play's writer, Jimmie Chinn, for over 40 years. He was thrilled that he was able to attend. This all came about after his sister-in-law just happened to go into Hales and Moore fishmongers and picked up the leaflet advertising the play. Peter emailed Dean Caston after the production to say this:
"So glad to hear that things went well in the second week - with great reactions from the audience. There was certainly a
lot of laughter when I attended. I'm pleased because I believe that it is a lovely play with its moments of tangible humour,
but I was concerned about its relevance in the modern world. Talking to your cast afterwards, those fears were allayed and everybody
seemed to be enjoying it - and I felt very at ease.
The sheer joy for me personally was that I did not know you people from Adam (or The Royal Family) but, at the end, I left contented that the play was in safe hands. Jo and Kerry and their loving cast had put together a great production - with a lot of care, attention and innovation. Each individual performance was sharply observed and contributed to the required comedy and the reflective moments. I was also delighted with the set and the technical effects - a super team effort.
However, I must admit my bias and admit openly that Ryan was one of the best 'Jeffs' I have seen - intensely involved from beginning to end. Congratulations!"
The sheer joy for me personally was that I did not know you people from Adam (or The Royal Family) but, at the end, I left contented that the play was in safe hands. Jo and Kerry and their loving cast had put together a great production - with a lot of care, attention and innovation. Each individual performance was sharply observed and contributed to the required comedy and the reflective moments. I was also delighted with the set and the technical effects - a super team effort.
However, I must admit my bias and admit openly that Ryan was one of the best 'Jeffs' I have seen - intensely involved from beginning to end. Congratulations!"
The first in a series of plays to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Oasthouse opening as a theatre sees Jimmie
Chinn's comedy that was first performed on the RaTS stage in 2000.
The cosy domesticity of lovers, Bob and Jeff, is threatened by Jeff's crisis. Jeff is considering leaving
Bob… but for a woman, so that he can become a father. Meanwhile Bob contends with meddling family members
who are ignorant of his living situation. His mother, a domineering comic creation, complicates matters by pressing
Bob to get married. She refuses to recognize that there is anything about her son which might upset her conventional
sensibilities. Can Bob's family - Lois and Bill, Nona and Arthur, and matriarch, Vera - help to rescue the
situation? And will Bob be able to tell the seemingly ignorant Vera that the 'straight and narrow' is
not the life for her favourite little boy?
