Rattigan's finest work brought to Thame (From Bucks Free Press)

Rattigan's finest work brought to Thame

9:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in Freetime

A PLAY considered to be Terence Rattigan's finest work is being performed by The Thame Players.

The Deep Blue Sea was first performed in London in March 1952, when it was praised by critics and audiences as evidence that Rattigan's view of life was growing deeper and more complex It also won praise for actress Peggy Ashcroft, who co-starred with Kenneth More in the first production.

In creating the play, Rattigan was inspired by the suicide of a young actor with whom he had some time previously had a relationship.

Peggy Ashcroft said of the part: "I feel I'm walking around the stage naked".

Her comment served to indicate how emotionally revealing,the play is.

The play revolves around the relationship between Hester Collyer and her lover Freddy Page. Freddy was a Spitfire pilot in World War II. He came out of that a war hero and worked as a test pilot, but lost his nerve and hit the bottle.

Before we join the play Hester has left her husband and is living with Freddy, pretending to be his wife. We join them at the lowest point of their relationship.

The Deep Blue Sea will be performed at The Players Theatre at 7.45pm each evening between March 5 and 9. Tickets cost £9 and £8, with £1 off for concessions, and are available from Tickets Anywhere in Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228, or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk

Comments are closed on this article.