RIVERSIDE Drama Company, celebrated their 10th anniversary with a spectacular production of Alan Ayckbourn's play, Comic Potential, presented at The Duchess Theatre last week. 

The curtains opened, a TV studio was revealed, with a rehearsal in progress. At first, the actors performances appeared to be a little wooden, or over the top, they even pronounced some words incorrectly, which sent the director, Chandler Tate, into a rage. 

A great performance by Pat Tuffin, terrific American accent. Some of the dialogue that followed with his two assistants made the audience realise, all was not as it seemed. The assistants were partners, in the 'gay' sense, and were played with conviction by Pam Chamberlain, as Prim Spring, and Joanna East, as Trudi Floote. Knobs were turned, buttons pressed, and the actors performed accordingly. They were androids! But because they were actors, actoids! 

In the hospital room. The nurses kept losing control and laughing. A most excellent portrayal by Elizabeth O'Hara. Her factory number was JC 333, but she was called Jacie Triplethree. 

The studio was expecting a visit from Carla Pepperbloom, the managing director of the firm that made these amazing actoids. Carla didn't suffer fools gladly, this part was played with gusto by Janet Bradbury. Her nephew, Adam Trainsmith, an eager young man, encouraged by his uncle, to become a comedy film writer. He spotted Jacie, and although knowing she was an actoid, fell for her. A superb performance by John Lomas. 

Carla had come to warn Chandler, that as his show was slipping in the ratings, Lester Trainsmith himself was coming to see what was going wrong. The big boss arrived. He did not speak, only in special cases, he had his right hand man, Marmion to do it for him. Lester was played with conviction by Keith Coxon. Marmion was something else. Here was Martin Holtom at his best.

Adam and Jacie decide to make a run for it, and stayed at various hotels, but the priceless moment came when they landed in a house of ill repute... Adam left Jacie on her own for a moment, during which time she was visited by a prostitute. A funny little cameo part for Donna Chinn, she warns Jacie to get out, if the pimp caught her, it would be curtains! He duly arrives, Jacie's character changes so fast, she is now a policewoman, before Turkey (the pimp) knew what was happening, he'd been man-handled to the ground, then kicked out. A small but good portrayal by Bob Baron. 

The two runaways are caught, and returned to the studio, where they fmd that Carla has left, and Lester offers Jacie her job, and Adam as director. She refuses, says she has a fault, and wants to he melted down. A distraught Adam sees her being taken away.

All is not lost, a bruised and battered Jacie comes back stating she fell off the back of the lorry! She goes up to the control box and yells 'Right everybody, back to work"!