CALLING thespians near and far.   Either take it on trust or come and see Martin Clare’s amusing new play Hummingbird House.   Whatever course of action you take, grab a copy of the script  (officially, of course) and present it  yourselves.

It is so funny and well written, it brings the house down.

It takes place in the reception area  of a Beauty Spa and set  designers and builders, Lindsay Park, Trevor Wells and their team have added detail to the nth degree.

A modern desk with computer and entrances to the tanning room, changing area and facilities and the manager’s office are all in view as well as the main entrance linked to a computer.

The manager is Louise Burgess’s snootily inefficient Geraldine who mysteriously  disappears as do three customers – Mrs Middlewich, an eccentric local critic played by Joan Jones, elderly pervert Mr Shuttleworth (Bill Craig) and flirty Mr Buchanan (Richard Hankinson)

This makes the three remaining characters believe a local serial killer is involved and they prepare to defend themselves with a staple gun, slippers and anything they can get lay their hands on.

One of them, Ralph is played by the writer himself.   His character has an obsession with health and safety and he frantically writes safety measures down even including a door monitor.

The door monitor is none other than naïve new girl, Rhonda.   Rebecca Buckley plays this wide-eyed innocent with a penchant for making little errors into big blunders, so well, that you just keep on laughing.

Sally-Marianne Hatton, as her more confident work mate who relates sales spiel over the telephone at a rate of knots is a joy to see.

The real hero of the evening – Martin Clare – gets an individual round of applause,  not just for his acting but for his writing.

In the programme he modestly states - “Shakespeare it ain’t” but, in a way it is.   For, just like the bard’s comedies, Hummingbird House has a perfect beginning, middle and amazingly amusing ending.


*   At Dunham Massey Village Hall until November 28.  For tickets telephone 07942 823 600 or at dunhamthespians.org.uk.  Star rating:  * * * * *