Stars explained: * A production of no real merit with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic which lifts theatre to another plane.
Half stars fall between the ratings

An actress, bishop and lots of laughs

See How They Run

Dudley Little Theatre

Netherton Arts Centre                       

*****

THIS is British farce at its best, with laugh-a-minute antics involving vicars, a bishop, a former actress, an escaped German prisoner of war and a bellowing army sergeant.

When author Philip King wrote the first act in 1942 it was called Moon Madness, and it's easy to see why. But when the completed play was first performed by Peterborough Rep two years later it had the now familiar title.

See How They Run is certainly more appropriate, and this splendid cast probably feel drained at the end of each performance after darting in and out of three doors, a large cupboard and up and down the staircase, or wrestling on the floor of the Vicarage in the imaginary village of Merton-cum-Middlewick.

It's a wartime romp with no surrender, plus the special ingredient of pass-the-dog-collar as clergymen real and bogus dominate the action.

Tony Stamp leads the way as the eye-popping village vicar, the Rev Lionel Toop, with Rebecca Clee superb as his former actress wife, Penelope, a lady with modern views that shock some of the locals.

TWEEDY SPINSTER

In particular she upsets tweedy spinster Miss Skillon, played with a great sense of comedy by Lyndsey Parker, particularly in the scenes where she is accidentally knocked out and then gets tipsy on the vicarage sherry. But was that a wedding ring on her left hand?

Cracking performances, too, from Emily Woolman (Ida, the maid), David Hutchins (Lance Corporal Winton), Maurice Felton (the Bishop of Lax). Chris Jones (the Rev Arthur Humphrey), and James Silvers (the POW).

John Lucock is so good as Sgt Towers who arrives searching for the escaped prisoner then has to unravel the multi-vicar mystery, he might have been drafted in from the regular army. He certainly grabs your atten-shun!

Full marks to director Prue Warne and producer Frank Martino for the way this fast-paced farce ticks all the boxes. See How They Run runs to Saturday night 15.05.10

Paul Marston 

www.dudleylittletheatre.org

Box office (01384) 872583  Also  request tickets on website PLUS tickets also available from Dudley Council Plus, Castle Street, Dudley. ( 01384 812812); Books Unlimited, Lower High Street, Stourbridge; Flavell's Butchers, Netherton.

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