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We are all in suspenders, sorry suspense, awaiting the next production from Horsehay Amateur Dramatics Society, as we cannot escape the references to underwear given the title, writes award-winning local author Chris Owen.

This is a modern-era northern comedy from the pen of Mike Harding that famous folk musician & writer, performer and raconteur currently hosting the folk music programme on radio 2 on Tuesday nights

This 20th century comedy is firmly from the soap stable as it mirrors northern life and mores in the eighties from the perspective of class-ridden working families

A time when life seemed more simple and things were a lot less PC (political correctness) conscious.

The play could not be written in its present form today with all the minefields of contemporary convention with the class-consciousness and racially-insensitive terminology employed in its descriptive language. However we need its colourful expressions and metaphors to complete the social history of its setting.

The play opens with the Ollerenshawe family making the final arrangements for the impending wedding between daughter Deirdre and local councillor Greenhalgh’s son, Mark.

All does not go well as we see from the ceremony to the reception as things conspire to wreck the married bliss of the would-be happy couple.

The fun begins on Marks stag night, which almost ends in disaster when a very drunk Mark is found chained to a blow-up rubber doll purloined from a night-club. As Mark is the son of Councillor Ronald Greenhalgh however, the police let him off.

The wedding day itself turns out to be rather a disaster too, with half the guests (including the priest) suffering from blinding hangovers and the play ends in chaos when Father Molloy, once again paralytically drunk, stumbles in on the reception clad only in his ecclesiastical underwear and brandishing the blow-up doll.

The play is directed as a double-hander by Edward Davies and Brian Hughes. Between them over the years they have produced hundreds of shows to local audiences so theatre-goers can expect a high-calibre treatment with high production values and some innovative effects included in the production which will serve to increase audience enjoyment.

Edward says, “We have strived to re-create the eighties setting and all of the performances will entertain and amuse our fans.”

Brian added, “HADS fans will have extra thrills in store as we will be utilising ‘ theatre- in- the- round’ techniques and augmenting the live performances with a few touches of technological wizardry to increase their enjoyment of this hilarious play”

Edward further stated: “That good old-fashioned comedy ingredient slapstick is also included in the mix which will serve to make it an enjoyable experience for our many loyal Horsehay Amateur Dramatics Society fans.”

Play dates: Thursday 4th, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th February 2010

Venue: Horsehay Village Hall, Bridge Road, Horsehay, Telford

Performances: commence @ 7:30pm each evening

Admission £5 (concessions £4)

Box Office: Tel: 01952 610555 or 01952 506831

Tickets: also available from : Walkers Shop, Woodhouse Lane, Horsehay,  01952 505018

Or can be reserved via http://horsehayamateurdramaticsociety.org.uk/