WITH the Devil Wears Prada making waves at the cinema, the Norbury Theatre’s ‘The Devil Wears Trainers’ was a very timely production.
And, having grown up with classic British comedies from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, this was probably more my thing of the two shows.
The play centres on Alf who is down on his luck – his wife has left him, he has been made redundant and he is forced to live with his son and daughter-in-law.
His life of being a layabout suddenly gets turned on its head when he offers to stand in for his son and run a marathon.
There is a lot resting on it – especially as the local conservation group Alf is in – ‘The Friends of Dogwood Common’ – pin their hopes on his fundraising efforts turning around their dire financial fortunes.
With so much doom and gloom in the world at the moment, this new play by playwright and director Roger Goddard, performed by the Norbury Players, provided some much-needed light relief.
There was great chemistry between the four members of The Friends of Dogwood Common who bounced off each other brilliantly.
Among them was Joy Williamson as the chair of the group Millicent. She portrayed the forthright but well-meaning character beautifully.
Miles Nicholls made the role of Roy his own and his very dead pan delivery made the great one liners he had to deliver even funnier.
Lesley La-Croix was also great as Jessica – Alf’s love interest in the friends group. She played the role of the helpful committee member but sometimes inept secretary and baker wonderfully.
And Colin Potter was excellent as Alf who was juggling trying to get his life back on track, pleasing Jessica and the other committee members, avoiding talking about his living situation with his daughter-in-law and wanting to make his son proud – all with as little effort as possible. You really felt for his character and wanted him to smash the marathon and save the group from financial ruin.
Alisha James impressed as Robyn, playing the constantly wound up and moaning daughter-in-law fantastically, She showed her character’s feelings of disapproval in as many ways as is humanly possible – just what the role needed.
And James Talib was great as Jordan – Alf’s son, Jessica’s husband and peacekeeper between the warring pair. You really felt for him having to make sure everyone was happy and especially towards the end when Alf’s actions made his role even harder.
The set was simple with the village hall at the back of the stage and Alisha and Jordan’s lounge at the front, enabling the action to flit seamlessly between the two.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable production, epitomising traditional British comedy.
Well done to Goddard for writing and directing the piece and the cast and crew for giving this new play a great first outing.
4th Jun, 2026
