Winton Players treated Petersfield Festival Hall to a pair of one-act plays by Peter Shaffer - Black Comedy, first shown at Chichester in 1965, and White Liars, written in 1967 to accompany it.

White Liars, directed by Daisy Bedford, is more typical of Shaffer’s later work: pensive and philosophical. Nothing is what it seems. Sophie Lemberg, a fortune teller claiming she is a baroness of the Holy Roman Empire, is consulted by rock band singer Tom and his manager Frank.

Each person is radically different from what they seem, and each conceals deep secrets. Anne Lise Kadri was amazing, presenting a non-stop monologue, complemented by Ben Bedford, multi-lingual in English, and Jez Austin. Despite just three actors, the action was fluid and pacy.

In Black Comedy, a sculptor and his fiancée ‘borrow’ antique furniture from absent neighbour Harold Gorringe to impress a millionaire art collector. The power fails, Harold returns early, other people arrive and things descend into chaos.

Matt Bell directed Black Comedy, and the direction was amazing - it was more like choreography as the stage became a three-ring circus. The cast were brilliant. Ben Gander as Brinsley stole the show. His efforts to retrieve a lampshade were memorable, as was removing a chair while two cast members passed each other drinks.

Grace Moritz as vacuous Carol Melkett was fantastic, as was Ann Wheeldon as Miss Furnival. She mistook an electrician (Steve Sheppard) for a millionaire and caused hysterics by stroking his hand and saying “it is soft”. Steve’s German accent was a delight.

Joanne Stephenson’s double takes as Clea, the spurned fiancée, and Wayne Pinhorn as Colonel Melkett were delightfully over the top. Special mention must go to Jez Austin as both Harold Gorringe and as Frank in White Liars. He displayed a remarkable range of acting talent, as did Ben Bedford.

Andrew Ryder