Kingsbridge Amateur Theatrical Society performed ‘Pieces of After Eight’, an original play by Grant Davies, this week at Malborough Village Hall.

Grant, who is a member of KATS and lives in Kingsbridge, wrote the comedy musical based around Daniel Lightfoot, a pirate who has been hiding out with other pirate families in the Caribbean for the last 300 years, until he inherits a treasure map and makes his way back to England to find his buried treasure.

When Captain Lightfoot – played by Joe Tapper - reaches England with his band of cutthroat pirates including Bosun – Bethan Tucker – and Simeon – Steve Watson, they stay at the Hotel Seaview, run by James Riddell – Bill Fletcher-Neal – and his long-suffering wife Pru – Christine Bonner.

James and Pru have been the guardians of their slightly dimwitted niece Samantha – Tara Roberts – since her parents died when she was nine, and when the pirates arrive at the hotel, Samantha takes a particular shine to Captain Daniel Lightfoot.

Behind the scenes of the hotel, we realize that James Riddell is selling smuggled “booze and fags” to his guests, with the help of dashing local smuggler Nick Christie – played by Grant’s son Jordan Davis.

The rest of the play circles around the growing relationship between Samantha and Daniel, the mutinous actions of Simeon and Bosun, the desperate attempts by Pru and James to keep their young niece from sailing into the sunset with Daniel, all the while Nick and James are attempting to keep their illegal dealings away from the undercover excise officer Edwina – Sarah Montague.

While I was slightly dubious about an original play, which had its world premiere in Malborough the night before, and a comedy as well – something that is notoriously hard to write – the play made me laugh out loud on many occasions, and smile almost constantly.

The songs, all brand new, with the music written by Grant and the lyrics being a mix of work from Grant and his friend Johnny Jarman, were instantly catchy and memorable, to the point that you caught yourself singing along after the second chorus.

The dry sense of humour and wit from James Riddell, the development of Captain Lightfoot as anything but a traditional pirate captain – he feels ill at the thought of blood – meant that the play was a resounding success.

The hotel residents, always on hand to provide backing singing and dancing and extra comedic value, were played by Kirsty Bonner, Teresa Chapman, Charlotte Hodgeson, Will Howatson, Helen Mitchelmore, Apple Taylor, Trevor Trout and Abbie Wood.

I’m always amazed at the talent on show whenever I go to see a KATS production, from the flawless singing, the fantastic choreography and the almost mistake-free performance – its live theatre after all and sometimes hats fly off completely of their own accord – and the beautiful set design, and Pieces of After Eight was no different.

Grant said he “couldn’t have wished for better” from the KATS team, which he directed with the help of assistant directors Jules McColl and Christine Bonner.

All in all, Pieces of After Eight was a funny, clever, enjoyable play, showing off the real range of talent we have in the South Hams. I can’t wait for the next performance, and wish Grant and the KATS team every success in the future. There are still a few tickets available for performances tonight - Friday, March 31 - and tomorrow - Saturday, April 1 - at 7.30pm at Malborough Village Hall, available on www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/167280 or from the Kingsbridge Information Centre.

Find out more about KATS on: www.kats-kingsbridge.co.uk and for Piece of After Eight information, visit: www.poa8.co.uk.