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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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Farce finding laughs aplenty Caught on the Hop
Sutton Arts Theatre
**** WRITTEN by
Derek Benfield, and first performed in 1977,
Caught on the Hop
is a romantic farce as popularised by Brian Rix. Its success is wholly dependent upon the energy and brio of the characterisation. Fortunately Sutton Arts were well up to the challenge with Ian Cornock and Alison Daly co-directing, the latter in addition to her acting duties. The eight parts, four male and four female, make
it ideal for amateur productions, and it was performed as a contemporary
piece, eschewing the need for dubious seventies fashion. Stage Director John Islip and his team excelled
with a convincing single lounge set offering the obligatory multiple
doorways which every farce requires. A complementary mood soundtrack
pleased. What makes this production such a delight is the
casting. The plot frequently not only requires a suspension of
disbelief, it requires the abandonment of it. It is the actors who must convince and carry the
show. The central pairing is Phil (Gary Pritchard), who has the
unfortunate habit of falling in love with girls on buses, and his best
friend George (Rod Blisset), whose job it is to try to extricate him
from his scrapes. Rod Blissett has the best part in the play, and
makes the very most of it, as he mixes horrified bemusement with his
friends’ actions, with the need for frantic action to try to save him.
The pivotal part, he excels and delights. Gary Pritchard has to develop being aghast, very
aghast, and very very aghast, as events spiral out of control around
him, and does so well. He plays Phil as an unlikely Romeo, a man always
one step behind . The central female pairing is Julie (Michelle
Dawes), Phil’s latest love interest, and Maggie (Alison Daly), Phil’s
long suffering wife , who can both carry killer heels in some style.
Michelle is perfect as Phil’s young, gullible, sexy squeeze, Alison is
equally strong as the older, and smarter than she lets on, long
suffering wife. Creditably, a very talented supporting cast are
happy to allow the central characters to shine. Dan Payne is amusing as
Julie’s fireman father, always ready to deal with any hint of fire,
including an evening sunset. Lovers Alan (Dexter Whitehead) and Greta
(Suzy Donnelly) confuse the plot, but entertain the audience. The scene stealer is veteran Mavis Atkinson as
Mrs Puffet. She makes every line, every glance, count, in a comic master
class. Her entrance following the kitchen conflagration brought the
house down, as did her exit line, reflecting on her day, “It started
with a bang up the backside and ended with a bang up the oven”. Farce can descend into stupidity unless executed
well, and there was never a moment when the cast allowed the pace to
slacken, or the laughter to stop. The best line of the night, in excuse
of marital infidelity, was; “when you are selling a car you don’t stop
driving it when you put an ad in the paper “. This show is the perfect
summer evening out for wholesome fun and laughs. To 28-06-14 Gary Longden
19-06-14 |
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