Quartet
by Ronald Harwood
The residents of a charitable retirement establishment for opera singers long for a
stable routine. Whilst they expect the demise of the more ancient, and they hope
they don’t go the same way as the doolally, change is the last thing they desire.
The highlight of the year is Verdi’s birthday, when the able residents are ncouraged to perform again their moments of glory for the Birthday Gala. Here, Wilf (Will Fenton), Reggie (John Freeman) and Cecily (Carol Hall), having heard the rumour of a new ‘inmate’, find their routine destabilised by the imminent arrival of Jean (Nina Berry), former, if brief, wife of Reggie who still considers herself a diva.
Thus old memories of failed marriages are mulled over, past glories relived and secrets of early retirement unfold against the tensions of strained relationships and unrequited passions.
By turns funny and poignant, this wonderful cast will have you laughing out loud as they struggle to turn a trio into a quartet for the Gala Concert.