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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. |
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Darkly comic farce - and a frock
The Ladykillers
The Highbury Players
The Highbury Theatre Centre
**** GRAHAM
Linehan's quirky comedy, The ladykillers, enjoyed a recent London
revival which no doubt hampered the release of the rights for amateur
companies across the country. The Highbury Players have been quick off
the mark to get hold of the piece and it sits well in their hands.
The story retains the
Ealing Comedy elements of the classic film; well drawn and district
characters mixed with equal measures of intrigue and farce - make
for an entertaining dose of knockabout humour both onscreen and
onstage. It feels old fashioned but is no poorer in any way
for that. Mrs. Wilberforce (Val Goode ) lives with her precious parrot - a bird who clearly wins no beauty awards (the parrot - not Mrs. Wilberforce ) 'it looks like a baby in a sock' as one character rather bluntly puts it. Into her life comes a new lodger, a Professor with a keen interest in music... or so he says. He is looking for somewhere to practice with his
musician friends - a somewhat dodgy collection of individuals who to
anyone other than gullible old Mrs Wilberforce would seem less likely to
know how to play a violin than would a mountain goat. There are some nicely unexpected characters
amongst this motley crew. A major with a yearning to wear women's
clothes, a Romanian psycho with an old lady allergy., a cockney spiv
with a cleaning obsession and a gormless sidekick who struggles to work
out who he is pretending to be. Add to the mix a gaggle of elderly
ladies and the eclectic guest list is complete.
Comedy, as we all know, relies on impeccable
timing and the most part it's achieved well here. Just occasionally,
unearned pauses or missed lines slow the flow of dialogue down and
potential laughs are lost. That said, the feel and atmosphere of the
piece is brought out by the cast and there are some deliciously funny
moments. Richard Irons gets the tone just right as the
gang . . . sorry band leader, Professor Marcus. Tall on tales, and
long on scarf! Harry Robinson delivers a good line in cheeky
spiv and Robert Hicks is worryingly convincing as a man who feels at
home is a frock. Dan Payne, as One Round takes gormlessness to a
new level and threatens to steal the show . . . as well as the money. Val Goode warmed to her role as the kindly Mrs
Wilberforce - a lady with no apparent judge of character when it comes
to crooks pretending to be musicians. Directed by Liz Parry with a clever set design by
Malcolm Robertshaw, Ladykillers is a play to tickle your fancy and make
you more than weary about who you rent a room to! To 20-12-14 Tom Roberts
10-12-14 |
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