On the 27th March, at the Recanto dos Mouros Restaurant in Silves, The Silver Mask Theatre Group treated us to the opening performance of their 2015 season. The stage management, the scenery and costume changes, together with the general logistics of the evening, ran like a well-oiled machine leaving the audience to relax and enjoy a performance of the highest quality. The entertainment consisted of a mix of eight short plays and monologues.
The story-telling, skilfully handled, was challenging, occasionally a little shocking but always amusing and involving. The humour, ever present, ranged from the dry to the "laugh out loud". Suffice to say the theatre rocked to the laughter and applause of a deeply appreciative audience.
The cast performed with the confidence of professionals - well rehearsed and in command of their material. Such was the quality of acting and variety of subject that everyone in the audience seemed to have different favourites. Even the "supporting" roles were peppered with excellence.
After the final curtain, when the Artistic Director, Jackie O'Grady and the cast took a bow they were greeted with a much deserved standing ovation. The Group went on to repeat the whole show the following night at Amadeus Garden Restaurant (Alcalar) with equal success.
In an exclusive post production interview Jackie admitted that although she and her production team are always in pursuit of new, exciting material, she felt that with the repertoire of plays from previous years several new compilations could be put together quite quickly without jeopardising the progress on the new material.
Watch this space!!!
