SOUTH Brent Amateur Dramatic Society will be presenting ‘Contrasts’ next week - a selection of three one-act plays in the Village Hall.

While the plays are very different in character they all contain diverse elements of comedy, and in some cases menace and tragedy.

‘The Long Voyage Home’ is one of the earliest works by American playwright Eugene O’Neil, published in 1917. Set a few years earlier, it draws on his own experiences at sea on a Norwegian square-rigged sailing ship. It was one of four plays known as the ‘Sea Quartet’, which formed the basis for a film in 1940, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. At the heart of the play is the character of Olson, played by SBADS’ stalwart Robin Lee. After many years at sea, Olson is looking forward to returning to Sweden to settle down and farm. When his ship docks in London he joins his mates for one last run ashore, in a bar of highly dubious character. Director of all three plays, Mike Sermon, came across this play at drama school and has loved the inherent atmosphere and colourful characters ever since. Also in the cast are John Gower, Sue Burgess, Nat Cook, Val Meek, Rob Willoughby, Alan Prince, Tom Harvey, James Dyson, Guy Pannell and Peter Brown.

’How He Lied To Her Husband’ was written at the request of a friend by George Bernard Shaw in just four days. It is essentially a situation comedy with elements of high and broad farce. Young romantic poet Henry comes to visit Aurora, the woman of his dreams, at her South Kensington home.

Unfortunately, she is married to an older man who is ‘something in the city’. Henry and Aurora argue, then her husband returns home and things take an unexpected turn. This production features Nat Cook as the wife, Tom Harvey as the young poet and John Gower as the husband.

‘The Dumb Waiter’ is among Harold Pinter’s best early plays. Two men, Gus and Ben, played by Robin Lee and Rob Willoughby, are waiting in a basement room for an assignment. They indulge in small talk, and argue about semantics. There is an atmosphere of menace throughout, alleviated by moments of absurd humour.

The Dumb Waiter is a serving hatch that becomes a virtual third character. This is not so much a ‘who done it?’ as a ‘who will do it?’

The production runs from Thursday, May 12 to Saturday, May 14 at South Brent Village Hall, with curtain up at 7.30pm.

The doors and bar open at 7pm. Tickets are available between 10am and 12.30pm, at the Mare and Foal charity shop in the village, or by calling the box office on 07812 414916.