Phoenix Players

Come Blow Your Horn

Arts Centre

Swindon

Come Blow Your horn, by Neil Simon, is the classic comedy play on offer from the Phoenix Players this week at the Arts Centre.

As always this company got it right. Nicholas Gratton, as older brother and man about town, Alan Baker, gave an exuberant and excellent performance.

In the role of his younger brother Buddy, newcomer Jacob Moore showed an exceptional aptitude for the stage. For me he stole the show. This young man will go far.

Dennis Breakspear was super as their father and Sandra Gilbert was a delightful overly doting mother of her boys. Both had great delivery of their lines and comedy timing.

There was no weak link in this play. Support from the lovely ladies who were well cast came from Millie Ashdown and Emma Palmer.

Director Sally Lovejoy used every part of the stage to convey the confusion of the situation while the characters entered in and out of the well designed set with exellent timing.

We laughed from start to finish and some even cried at the end when the wonderful Daphne Breakspear was presented with a Swindon Does Arts Hero Award, marking her 50 years involvement in amateur theatre and stirling contribution to drama in Swindon.

Congratulations to her and the Phoenix Players on a job well done.

Ros Hollands