Strawberries and cream, Wimbledon, the Ashes test matches - here comes summer! One of the best things about summer in the South West is the summer repertory season at The Playhouse in Weston-super-Mare. I was privileged to see the prelude to the rep season, which was Holiday Snap. Bruce James Productions is a synonym for excellence, and Holiday Snap was right out of the top drawer. Local talent Damien Williams starred, as he often does. I cannot believe that there is a funnier person on the British stage today. His antics in the role of Commander Chittenden, as he gradually got more and more drunk, were superb, whilst his ad-libs enhanced his reputation. The most memorable was the pun about Lucille "loose heel", and the chat with his gin bottle, "come on Gordon - let's get out of here!" Damien stars in the first, third and fourth rep productions in the 2005 season. Learning so many lines in such a short period is a tremendous achievement, and yet he always delights his many local fans. An appreciative audience Bruce James was brave enough to play the cameo role of Perky in Holiday Snap, although Debra Karen as mother-in-law Celia, also took the eye. Leslie (Darren Maddison) and the shapely Eve (Tiffany Graves, in low-cut dress and stilettos) also kept the action moving brilliantly. Andrew Fettes as the wealthy legal buffoon was perfectly cast, drawing many belly laughs from an appreciative first-night audience. I look forward to an hilarious and professional rep season, which I will review individually. | 
