Blue Suede Blues Synopsis and Diana Raffle Biography

On 24th October there is a Special performance at the BBC to raise funds for Children In Need, by Shenley Drama Group of this One Act comedy by Diana Raffle

Synopsis of Blue Suede Blues
Grace and Lily reside in a nursing home with little to do but witness the senile capers of other residents. Grey-haired and wrinkled Grace may be, but she's determined to add a dash of spice to her life to break the tedium. She inveigles the unwilling Lily into helping her
kidnap the young Care Assistant, Pansy, for the ransom of a bottle of gin, a packet of fags and a budgie, but things don't go quite according to plan - with hilarious results!
This is a witty and wickedly funny one act play.

Diana Raffle Biography
Diana Raffle (1966 - 2007) was born in Bellshill, near Glasgow. She was adopted by English parents, who moved to the south of England soon after her birth and she was brought up and educated in Maidstone, the county town of Kent. Blue Suede Blues was her first published one act play. Tragically, this success coincided with a major setback, when in 2002 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Given that the disease was at an advanced stage of development, she knew she had limited time to write and produce more plays, but her new found talent was prolific. Sadly, Diana lost her battle with breast cancer in November 2007, aged just 41. Ironically, she died during the week her final full length farce (Round the Houses) was being performed by The Willington Players at Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre. Diana is survived by her husband Scott and three children, Callum, Lucy and Isobel.
Although her life was cut short, her family are happy in the knowledge that her memory will live on in so many of her published plays.

Cast
Grace ...........................Debbie Taylforth-Rix
Lily ...............................Will McMullen
Pansy ...........................Jay Meikle
Frank ............................Dave Buckle
Derek ............................Reg Blake
Mrs Green .....................Carol Stevens

Directors ........................Kathy Driver & Nathalie Lewis

Stage Manager ..............Gerry Driver

Lighting/Set Build ..........Dorian Brook

Publicity Design ............ Carol Stevens

Blue Suede Blues review by Parv Walling

I was delighted and excited to attend the evening performance of Blue Suede Blues from Shenley Drama Group. I knew it would be an extra special evening because our very own Editor of Watford Flea, Nathalie was co-directing.

This was the first 1 act play I’ve attended and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m a huge comedy fan and I must give credit to the writer, the late Diana Raffle. Blue Suede Blues is sharp, witty and also beautifully and cleverly written. It is most definitely a lasting testament to Diana who tragically lost her battle with breast cancer in 2007 aged just 41. Profits from the show were pertinently donated to Breast Cancer Awareness.

The play is set in a care home where Grace played by Debbie Talyforth-Rix and Lily played by Will McMullen are both bored with their everyday monotonous existence. Grace is the feisty one and really desperate to add some excitement to her life. With much persuasion, she finally manages to cajole Lily into kidnapping Nurse Pansy played by Jay Meikle. Grace was utterly hilarious and Lily was simply enchanting. Nurse Pansy certainly had her hands full with those two old ladies that’s for sure. That’s when she wasn’t hand-cuffed!!.

The story was straightforward, yet highly engaging as it unfolded rapidly. There was plenty of laughter and giggling could be heard in the audience throughout the play. It may have been all those terrific one liners or perhaps the expressions, props and sounds coming from the stage. The play ends on a happy note yet leaves you wanting more.

Extremely well done to Nathalie and all involved in this wonderful production. You should be extremely proud of your achievements. I’m confident Diana Raffle would have been thrilled and I can’t wait for your next production.

This article was created on Tuesday, 7th October 2008. It was last tinkered with on Wednesday, 15th October 2008.

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