Essential Surrey Magazine

Janice Dempsey reviewer

‘People’ by Alan Bennett ★★★★★

Alan Bennett’s ‘People’ is in safe hands with the Guildburys!

The Guildburys’ new production of People by Alan Bennett is a real joy. The play, directed by Eddie Woolrich, is one of Bennett’s funniest and most satirical plays and it kept us laughing from beginning to end.

Gilly Fick plays Lady Dorothy, who just wants her home to be warm, with ensuite bathrooms and running hot water, without “people” traipsing through its rooms to view it and herself as museum pieces. She transforms herself effortlessly from a despairing neglected old woman to a charming middle-aged lady enjoying the fun that the movie crew brings to the house: “I’m not a metaphor, and nor is this house” she says. Caroline Whillans as Iris, her companion, is also onstage continuously, giving a wonderful performance as a curmudgeonly old woman living in the past, who nevertheless misses nothing. Her delivery of stinging asides and pointed rebuffs is brilliantly funny. Cheryl Malam as June, the archdeacon sister, is a model of uptight disapproval of all but her own plans.

Full review here