Andy Howells previews this weeks Newport Playgoers Society presentation, Snake in the Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre.
One of my favourite playwriters is Alan Ayckbourn and I’m particularly looking forward to their presentation of his dark comedy Snake in The Grass which is brought to the Dolman Theatre stage this week by Newport Playgoers Society.
The play follows Miriam who has cared for her father in the family home during his vituperative last years with the help of a creepily polite nurse, Alice. Following father’s death, Miriam’s older sister, Annabel, returns home after over thirty years in Tasmania to find Daddy has left the bulk of his fortune to her. Alice complains to Annabel that Miriam has sacked her and is intent upon blackmail, having evidence, she says, that Miriam did away with the old man. Miriam and Annabel join forces against Alice, but circumstances are about to take a strange and dramatic turn.
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time 
Newport Playgoers Society presentation of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in The Grass at Newport’s Dolman Theatre. Photo: Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time
Directed by Moira Mainwaring, who says the play will “get right under your skin,” Snake in the Grass features Adele Cordner, Ann Harrison and Jennie Crum. Our preview photographs by Paul Johnson/ Pixels in Time feature the cast on stage at Newport’s Dolman Theatre.
Newport Playgoers Society have previously breathed life into other Ayckbourn plays including Role Play, Time of Your Life and The Things We Do For Love, all with great success.
Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake in the Grass plays Newport’s Dolman Theatre from March 8th – March 11th, 2023.