Jack Studio Theatre – until 8 March 2025
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Stewart Pringle’s charming comedy is a beautifully observed story of village life. Written by Stewart Pringle, and winner of the 2017 Papatango New Writing Prize, the play centres around two retired people whose lives intersect every Thursday evening in a Temperance Hall in Yorkshire.
The characters are instantly recognisable to anyone who grew up in a village. Widower Harry sits on the committee, helps out at the CAB, visits the garden centre and has a quietly structured life, while Denise is finding freedom in her retirement. As Harry (Timothy Harker) takes a moment after chairing his committee meeting, Denise (Jilly Bond) comes in to set up her Zumba class. Their friendship slowly develops from their first awkward meeting, when Harry mistakes her for the cleaner, and they are soon sharing sandwiches together – and playing “guess my sandwich” with Denise’s sense of adventure and abandon coming to the fore.
Parker Graham’s fantastic set feels like it’s been scooped up from a village with its magnolia walls and familiar furniture. (Although from my own experience, witchcraft may have been involved to get the table up and down so smoothly without bloody knuckles) Matthew Parker’s smart direction and Laurel Marks’s lighting create a gentle rhythm as each weekly encounter is marked.
Jilly Bond and Timothy Harker have extraordinary chemistry as the relationship changes and they navigate misunderstandings and conflicts. Harker’s portrayal of Harry’s precise and fussy mannerisms is delightful, and the impish glee that is evident as he lets himself try new things is lovely. The Zumba session is a joy to watch. Jilly Bond is wonderfully nuanced as Denise – brash and loud on the surface but slowly opening up to Harry about her lack of confidence. The moments when they are simply being silly together are a sweet picture of friendship, making their shock and discomfort when they find out more about each other more emotional.
Pringle’s witty writing captures the social nuances of village life, with each character running in different social circles with shared knowledge but different perspectives of people and local places. The sense of community, and the characters’ motivation for contributing are evoked carefully alongside the petty prejudices and lack of anonymity.
Trestle is a delightfully gentle and cosy comedy, a wonderful way to fill a chilly winter evening.