pyekan

The house on cold hill ****

At the Mill at Sonning

When I was a child I used to love (and write) ghost stories.

Now, it seems, frighteners owe more to Dinosaurs and Sci fi than ghosts or even Dracula – [my son’s favourite hero.] But the wonderful Mill at Sonning Theatre has come to our aid .This production is inspired by a real life event told by Peter James, adapted by. Shaun McKenna and directed by Keith Myers

Oddly enough, this play is in the current fashionable form of an overlong first act and a quicker and more snappy last act. I feel it is necessary to mention this as I believe a few cuts in the early part of the play would be an improvement. I found the act rather too long and full of too much conversation.

The plot is based on the true story which is featured in the programme.

Chris has bought a typical gothic house in the country several miles from the previous family home in Brighton. The house, of course, had a history – one that the estate agent never mentioned. It doesn’t take Caro the wife and Jade, his daughter to find out each in their own particular way the problems of living in the house on Cold Hill. 

The house is , of course, infested with some unhappy deceased residents who tend to blame the living occupants of the house for their unfortunate demise. One particular old lady who turns lights on and off and who seems to live in a blocked off secret room upstairs, occasionally visiting the hall  to appear in the looking glass above the fireplace. There are some ghostly effects, doors open and shut,  strange noises and twitchy neighbours. 

The man, his wife and daughter all find this out during the first act one way or another. Some of the findings are really scary. 

A modern comedy addition to the plot is the Alexa which is bought by Caro for her husband. It provides us with a few laughs by constantly misunderstanding the questions she is asked, which add to her creepiness in the end.

Keith Myers has gathered a super cast including Madeleine Knight, Dan Buckley,Hannah Boyce,Kevin Rand, Matt Milburn and Harry Gostelow plus another addition in the completely unrecognisable appearance of Debbie McGee who is  taking a break from her tv appearances to play a weird supernatural person who tries to help them exorcise the grey lady and  others who are being obstreperous.

Alex Marker should be applauded for his  Superly Gothic set incorporating all sorts of curious aspects. Special sounds and effects by Graham Weymouth

The atmosphere at the Sonning mill is so conducive to having a glorious evening – or afternoon and the splendid two course meal before the show adds enormously to the all round enjoyment. A trip to Sonning is always a special occasion.

aline@AWtheatricals.com

Alinewaitereviews.newpress.c

SCENE EIGHT

SCENE EIGHT

Fran stood by the carousel and waited for her luggage to appear.

She had packed warily, what does one wear in London these days?

Living in Perthshire o ne only needed two sets of clothes. The ones to wear for looking after the pigs and the Sunday best which you wore on every social occasion. For this event her best clothes had gone into her trunk but most of the pig-rearing garments were not correct for a sophisticated life style. A quick visit to Marks and Sparks provided a decent pair of trousers, paired  with a well fitting  jacket and a pretty  blouse for her to wear on the journey. She got some plain shoes and paid a visit to her hairdresser.

When the bag came round, she managed to heave it off. It was noticeable to her – a stranger to modern London manners, that although there were many young and fit men standing around the carousel, none of them made any attempt to help her. She had managed to pick up a trolley so she was OK with this, but it was obvious that any concessions to courtesy were absent.

She walked through the exit ready for whatever might befall her. She was amazed when she saw he young man in white shorts and shirt, appearing with a banner that read FRAN DARLING.

The  young man rushed up to her and, taking her bag, put it on the ground and treated her to a big hug. She responded to the affection from a stranger. He was so friendly, she really ddn’t mind.

“I’m Jacko” he said, “and you are the lovely Fran”

He had a very pleasant voice, low and warm with a faint cockney accent.

“Leo says she has missed you all her life and is longing to see you now.”

Fran had to respond to the young man’s energy and enthusiasm.

“I’m looking forward to seeing her. But you knew me straight away. How did you recognise me?”

“There was nobody else it could be. Leo showed me a lot of photos. You haven’t changed a bit”

In the warmth and comfort of the Big Black Bently, she had minutes to herself for memories of Leo as a little girl.Fran had been a Drama tutor ar Sherwood Academy in Hull and had taken to the very beautiful Scottish girl who was alone and frightened in school. Franhad been left in charge as Maxine Fletchet, who opened the school was doing so much television work in London, she did not have ime to keep racing p and down the country to carry on both professions. Her partner, Jessica Sherwood had been forced to reitire to her country estates because her actor son had abolutley no interest in running them and spent most of his life in London gambling, dri kinking and producing illegitimate children.

Fran took pity on the wee Scottish girl and looked after her, inviting her ino the shome she shared with her husband.

At this point her memory just stopped. It was just not safe to remember any more – not at this  p oint – not now when this charming young man was treating he into a big silvermotoe car, and takin her on an unknown adventure.

Lleonora lived in a Chelsea Townhouse. It looked tall and narrow from the outside. They climbed some steps up to the front door, which was heavy, oak and open. As he drew up Leonora appeared at the door – she ran down the steps and hugged Fran as she stepped out of the car.

“Welcome to Valhalla” she cried “You’ve met Jacko of course. Isnt he adorable>”

Jacko laughed, showing his set of perfect teeth. Fran reflected that thirty years ago, he would have looked like a movie star, but nowadays all young men looked exactly the same.

Fran had seen pictures of Leo with her husband Saul. They were an extravagantly handsome twosome, but nothing could have prepared her for the vision of Leo in real life. It was if she had been switched on to a light   source that shone through her perfect skin. Fran had the idiotice feeling that she woul shine in the dark and one would be able to read about by the light.

Jacko escorted the two of them into the large front facing sitting room. i

Leo hugged her again and Fran felt her warmth enveloping her. Leo’s hug went on for some time, until she turned round and put her arm out to Jacko instead.

“Jack o is my special pet. Isn’t he adorable? We call him Jacko – most people call him darling. He can take care of you, he takes care of me and Saul”

Jacko took this remark as a cue for the song.

“Don’t be afraid and just call me Call me and I’ll be around”

“And he’ll sing to you at the same time if you can bear it “ laughed Leo and she pulled him to her and kissed him on the cheek.

Jacko gave a quick chuckle and turned to Fran.

“What would  you like to drink?” he asked “Leonora, the wicked girl drinks brandy. Or would you prefer champagne?”

`MayI have a gin and tonic?”

“Good choice. It is a pleasure” said the young man as he went into the front room.

Leo too her into the downstairs cloakroom and showed her the facilities.

“Are you wondering who Jack is?” she asked.

Fran nodded but indicated she was not being inquisitive.

“Of  course you are.” she said. “He’s one of my lovers”

“I thought so “replied Fran as calmly as she could manage, happy that she was washing her hands,, even though she was aware that her voice felt a bit faint and far away. She cleared her throat self consciously. Leonora gave her a close look then led her the way into he front sitting room when Jacko was busy pouring the drinks.

When they came in he immediately helped Fran into a big Scandinavian type armchair and put her gin and tonic on to a little table beside her.

After tipping his glass to them in celebration, he left the room, taking the drink with him.

Fran sat in  the huge chair so big that she felt she was completely buried in it.and worry about what woul d happen if she tried to stand up..She was still feeling confused about what was the relationship of Jacko withinthin the establishment. She coulndt understand the e matey atmosphere.t.

Leo had read her thoughts

“Don’t worry, I’m afraid it was irresistible to tease you. Jacko is an old friend who is helping me out. I’m terribly fond of him. I was just teasing.I, sorry. We are a difficult household to sort out. We’ll do it eventually, we can all learn from each other.

Fran notices that her hands were hardly still. She was standing beside a long legged table and twisting an ashtray round and round in her long strong fingers as she spoke.

Her nails were long and painted bronze. She wore a large emerald ring covering her wedding band.

She looked small and frail in her white dress and utterly beautiful. Even her slight confusion was charming. She left the ashtray alone and ran her hands through her already tumbled pale hair. Frab remembered this gesture of old. Her hair had never remained tidy for more than a couple of minutes. This tumbled hair combined with her rather dignified appearance showed up her contradictory personality.

Saul will be back soon. I’m longing for you to meet him. He’s wonderful”

She blushed a little as she spoke of him.

“I’m so lin love with him, I have been all my life it seems. Not possible is it?”

When Fran knew her at the College. She couldn’t imagine her mentioning her feelings to anyone – even at the life changing event they had shared. Maybe people change when they are completely in love.

“I’m glad you are so  happy” said Fran”

“Happy?”she said, “Did I say that? Darling, haven’t I always been happy? Haven’t I always had something in my life I’ve wanted. Fame, money, success and the man I love”

The last words seemed a little bitter and she thrust her hand through her hair again in a quick nervous gesture.

“Another drink darling?”

CHAPTER TWO

It all began with a meeting of four elderly persons

Distinguished man about town and theatrical agent, Stanley Hervy held the meeting, in his West End office

Stanley, who enjoyed life when things were happening, had a call from Roger Morrison (Roger Morrison? Oh That Roger Morrison. The Professor.t) He wanted to resurrect his play the only one he ever wrote that was produced in the distant past.

The four people were all involved in a play back in the seventies. Roger Morrison was the writer. It was his onLy stage play and he didn’t want to die without seeing it once more.

He had called Stanley who had got in touch with the women who had played the leads in the original production. Maxine Fletcher and Jessica Sherwood – both well known actresses and rivals in the business. The idea inspired their qed in the seventies.

Maxine and Jessica kissed each other on both cheeks.

“You look lovely daling” said Maxine “Hoooks?”

“Dull history books. Queens was my only venture ilnto Show Bjusiness. What do you say?

”

“Bt what about all those wonderful be play produce again. It is my oldy playw do you do it? T must cost you a fortune”

“And you look…” Jessica seemed lost for words”

“Old?”

“Nono Just like you do on TV”

“You mean, that nation’s favourite grandma?”

Maxine gave Jessica a steely smile and turnedi to face Roger.

“Nice to see you again Roger. We’ve left it far too long.”

Stanley got everyone seated comfortably and asked Roger to elucidate

“Its about my play – The Two Queens”

“The one you wrote specially for me,” said Jessica,”My darling PHlip bought the copyright”

“Yes this is what Im about to suggest. I’m an old man. Not too long to live. And there is one thing Id liek to see before I go”

“And that is?” asked Maxne

“i ‘ want to see the play again”

At this point Stanley felt he had to say something#

“What are you saying. You are going to finance another production?”

“Er no” Roger looked a little shamefaced “I dont have the dosh”

“Jessica then?”

“Darling you know I haven’t got a penny. That is the reason I want to dispose of the copyright of Queens”

“You are asking someone to buy it?” asked Maxine.

“That is what they are saying Darling/”said Stanley

Roger seemed almost in tears

“ I want to see you two girls repeat your wonderful performances.”

. That made maxine laugh.

“Darling, surely we’re a bit a long in the tooth for that”

` “What do y ou mean long in the tooth snapped Jessica – who was still dying her hair and looking for work.

“Sorry Jess. I mean I am too old” replied Maxine, who had made herself some  late in life notoriety as Grandma in “Generations” a popular and long lasting Soap Opera.

Jessica had not been so lucky. When young she had married into the aristocracy. Her son, who was also an actor, had happily run through the entire family fortune. He spent it in various ways, at the gaming tables, foolish speculations and most of all a long string of mistresses, all of whom had been promised marriage and all of whom had looked forward to being Lady Creighton eventhough there wa a Lady Creighton already in residence and four l ittle4 Creightons waiting in the wings. Jay’s promise to divorce his wife and marry them was a chronic disease with h im. He couldent help it and it cost the family dear. Jessica was sas broke as she could be, but somehow managed to cope with life.  She had a poweerful spirit that just could put up with life as it came along. The Mske do and mend spirit  peculiar to Show business people but even more e to a little girl from the slums of the Hull fish dock. She had risen far and was ready to rise again if there was an opportunity.

“My dear old friend” said Maxine with undisguised hostility, “all I mean darling, is that you cannot go on being the Virgin Queen for ever”

“Humph, well darling, surely it is better than just to sink into old age.Youi turned into a character bag forty years ago.”

“Well darling, its just that I find it inelegant to appear as mutton dressed as lamb”

Stan brok in.

“Grow up you two. If we are going to do this thing, we must do it properly. The play will need an update”

Roger protested

“How can you  update Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth the First. They are historical characters”

“Stylistically Roger, it will probably seem a little antiquated. We need a fresh eye  to look at it.”

Jessica intervened with something  constructive to say.

“I have a young friend whose special talent is adapting and directing old fashioned plays”

“Hardly old fashion” said Roger

“Who is this genius?”asked Maxine

Jessica coloured slightly as she said his name.

“Edmond du Bois, but he prefers to be known as E.DWood”

“Why does he work under an alias. Is he a criminal?”

“No he thinks it brings him nearer to the real people”

“Sounds like an upper class Twit” said Maxine, “One of your teenage boyfriends?”

“Sounds good” said Roger eagerly. “Shall we do it at the Olympic?”

Stan had to hold back a groan, hiding his face and his reactions under the guise of a cough.

“The Olympic is a little busy” he said improvising madly “ they are about to present a new Harry potter play”

“Then where?”

Stan spoke carefully. Although he was able to be acidly truthful when speaking to people he admired, he was always kind to those he rated less than friends.

“For everybody’s sake I think we should start slowly” he said to Roger “I know a few fringe theatres that often need something to run at this time of year.”

“FRINGE!!”  chorused the others.

“You night just as well suggest doing it in an underground carpark” said Maxine

“That may not be as much of a joke as you think Maxie” said Stan.

“You are ridiculous sometimes” she replied

“No, he’s right Dame Max” said Jessica, “How did you get that Dameship? Wasnt it for services to fringe theatres?”

“Well yes, but I never think the fringe had any real resonance for me”

“Come on Maxie, You don’t have to be in the play, but it would be really good if you financed it”

“That is a brilliant idea”said Jessica with malice “It is time you showed a little more enthusiasm about the world of the young starving actors who happily work without money just for the sake of practising their art. I suppose a middle class, drama school graduate and Equity member would not bother herself with such things”

“I give them loads of money”

“Actually, Maxie, Jessie is right. It would be good if you were to be seen actually producing  a fringe play,” said Stan.”Great publicity for y ou”

“Publicity is everything isn’t it?” said Jess,” That’s what you always say”.

Stanley organised another meeting. This time with Maxine, Roger and Edmond De Bois.

They found h im a nice polite young man. He was dressed in a neat well cut suit, spoke in perfect RP accent and generally persuaded them easily that he would be the perfect jman for the job. He was ambitious and anxious to make his mark in the business.

“He seems all right” said Maxine as they left the office.

“All right Of course he’s all right” said Roger. “He was wearing ab MCC tie”

“In that case, there is no more to be said” laughed Maxine.

CHRIS DE BURGH                     

JUly 14th an event at Octopus TV. The great Chris de Burgh gave an interview to Andrew Eborn. Chris is the man responsible for one of the great romantic ballads “Lady in Red” In fact many people only know him from that song. It caught the imagination of so many people back in the eighties.But here is a man with many separate lives.

He lives in a beautiful Norman Castle in Ireland and bears a name with great prestige from the days of William the Conqueror ,His ancestor Hubert de Burgh was the chief advisor to Richard the Lionheart. He is justly proud of his ancestry but believes that every poor child in the world deserves as much respect as much love and care as the children of Royalty.

. 

At the age of 72, Chris has a lovely well lived-in face with expressive eyebrows. His motto is Live Life, Live well. The only way to live is to be yourself. He speaks quickly and naturally without any kind of pomposity or affectation. 

He took the hard road to his preferred profession, singing in Berlin nightclubs. Songs like the Lonnie Donegan favourite ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’. 

“The Hard road teaches you humiliation,” he said. “I come from the world of entertainers. I hate miserable songs”

He also found out about the dangers of filming. When helping to rescue Jane Seymour from the Wicked Baron, he  nearly drowned swimming across the moat when his tights all filled up with water.

This was a very long and meaningful interview, Andrew had done so much research into his life that whenever Chris stopped for breath, Andrew would remind him of something else in his past. It is the fullest interview I have ever seen.

He gave Andrew a virtual tour of his house into the study which has walls plastered with gold and  platinum discs. Fifty million records and he’s still writing.

He is due to release his new album “Robin Hood” in September and he has a full diary of events in UK cities booked in for October this year. 

He showed another picture 

These are the hands of men, the hands that can kill.

He talked of the famous football match on Christmas Day in World War one. When the German and the English played football as a friendly match for one day, and the very next day had to return to killing each other.

But of course, at this particular time, when the unveiling of the Princess Diana Statue is revealed, thoughts about her came to the fore towards the end of the interview. Chris had a particular fondness for the Princess and the wonderful work she had been doing  On her death he wrote a new song, full of the deep emotion he felt on her cruel early death. “There’s a New Star up in Heaven tonight” He was a member of her funeral and spoke with great feeling about the reaction of the people both in and out of the Abbey.

Here is a man who speaks from the heart. His music is far away from the pop world of today but it still has an enormous amount of appeal for a huge audience of fans who love the stories and honesty of the work of Chris de Burgh

THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE

Dis Donc

Another first night. This time it is at the Arcola, in its new temporary home under a tent just round the corner from the old theatre. The refurbishment of the old place will probably take a couple of years, so it seems the tent will be in use for a long time. It has a bar and socially distanced seating. Small wooden benches for two people, strategically place around the area. It has a slightly strange atmosphere, not exactly theatrical, more  like a Pierrot show of the kind we Yorkshire kids used to see on the beach at Brid.

The show itself has a music hall feel about it.

It is a farce by seventeenth century French playwright Pierre de Marivaux translated in to a kind of British farce by Jack Gamble and Quentin Beroud. 

It was a typical satirical comedy dealing with problems of the day. The cash strapped Lord Orgon is marrying off his pretty daughter Sylvia to a parvenu in order tosurive financially. The Millionaire is persuaded by his father to marry into the aristocracy in order to achieve the correct kind of prestige within Society. Sylvia persuades her cheeky aid Lisette to change places with her, so that she can act as a maid and find out about this proposed husband. 

It is also a satirical comment on the difference between the classes – the masters and the servants.

The sweet cheeky maid has to be turned into her snooty mistress in order to prove the value of her proposed husband. Of course all will end happily and the company dance themselves out at the end in order to invite the vast amount of applause.

As a fan of Comedie Francaise I couldn’t help feeling sad that the high style French farce should be turned into something that would have been very much at home in the hands of Brian Rix. Not a criticism, just an observation.

The excited audience was vociferous in its reactions. The applause at a couple of moments in the play, Solo items by both Sylvia and LIsette, was as enthusiastic as if they had both produced an operatic aria. .

It was a delight to hear the surge of emotion from the people watching almost as if they were friends and families of the cast. I was reminded of the old days of Rep when some members of the company were favorites and they were applauded whenever possible.

All was good except – the wooden benches were desperately uncomfortable. Did nobody think of cushions? Not difficult. Some people in the know brought their own..

Looking around I amused myself looking at the enormous bums which were occupying those wooden benches. The pandemic has certainly improved the sizes of the these features. I was giggling about this until I realised that the same could be said of me.

A jolly show, ideal for celebrating Freedom Day!

FRIEND   The one with Gunther ****

This is a streamed production of a performance at Wilton’s Music Hall and concerns the characters in the long running Sitcom “Friends” {it ran for 236 episodes} The group of young people – six very close friends living in New York – is still the World’s favourite Sitcom after twenty five years. 

I do not believe there are many people in the world who do not feel a kind of friendship with Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and Joey. However there is one character who has been in nearly every episode and yet is not counted as one of the famous six

That one person is Gunther the guy who runs the coffee bar they all frequent, amusingly titled “Central Perk”

So along comes Brandon Murphy who rushes to the aid of the unfortunate  Gunther, to release his attitudes to the six stars and not only help him with psychological uplift but also give him a back story. Wow. Brandon shares a hair colour with his hero who was known as The Boy With the Sunshine Hair because of his impressively blond locks. Gunther calls himself the seventh friend and mourns the disappearance of the other six when the series ended in 2004.

As Gunther, he talks of his life to a living and lively audience, occasionally inviting them on stage to become part of his story.

He is still carrying the torch for Rachel who he has always adored. He seems to spy her in the audience and drags up a girl in a mask. Together they do a well choreographed dance routine – (he describes this as unrehearsed)

He decides she is not his adored one after all and asks her to leave the stage.

He met Rachel in the very first episode when she arrived in a wedding dress having left her future husband at the altar. He gave her a  job in the Cafe, praising her and ignoring her many mistakes in handing out coffee.

Brandon is a talented comic and he gives a wonderful  resume of the six characters as seen in Gunther’s eyes beginning with an impression of Joey’s agent who is sending him for a job in England – to be on Top Gear

He gives his impressions of each one and the characteristics that make the audience keep watching.i

Monica Geller used to be fat, so she is therefore  funny ,

Chandler the Impish Clown. makes jokes and works at something to do with computers.

Phoebe is all alone in the world having only a twin sister, a brother, a sister in law, and a mother. She makes her money by singing in the Central Perk.

Rachel, the face of a super model, is an angel, who is unfortunate having an  on and off relationship with Ross.

He does wonderfully funny  impressions of Ross, who he hates. He has really got under the skin of Gunther, having a special dislike of him because of Rachel.

He adds a compilation of the many homophobic things they said. What was acceptable in the nineties

”Friend” is available on line from 19th July until Sunday 25th. Running time seventy minutes without interval.

This is a good fun performance friends of “Friends” will love it and the Wiltons atmosphere is perfect for this show

Which was written by Brendan Murphy, directed by  Hamish Macdougall and presented by Seabright Productions. 

MR AND MRS NOBODY

TheDiary of a Nobody has been described by Evelyn Waugh as “The funniest book in the world” Well if not the funniest, it comes pretty near to it.

Carol  Ann Duffy – our ex poet Laureate has explored and poeticized the wives of many famous men in her humorous style In her book The World’s Wife.  In this play, Keith Waterhouse has taken Mrs Pooter, the wife of a not famous man – in fact a Nobody – and is giving us her thoughts as her pompous husband carries on with his life and his diary, Mrs Pooter is now writing her own version of the uninteresting events that interest her husband so much.

Of course, in the theatre, we all waited with bated breath for the most famous image – the painting of the bath. It is carried out with precision and perfectionperfecton by Edward Baker-Duly who gives us his handsome but daft Pooter

.Caroline Pooter is played with a kind of skittish girly charm and enormous sympathy by Mirancda Fosterrie, is played with enormous charm by Miranda Foster. She jins in his long lasting roars of laughter at his own jokes even though she knows his puns are not really very funny, but she allows himallowhelps him give himself the reputation of being a wit.

This episode in their lives deals with the famous painting sequences,the disastrous trip to the M

 as well as the tip to the Mayors ball at the Mansion House and the holiday in Broadstairs. In addiotion there are concerns aboutS

he is very concerned about their son Lupin who has constant problems with his 

Daisy his older girlfriend and his frequent dismissals from Charles’s boss. Mr Perkup, 

Miranda and Edward are enchanting and delicious. A beautiful couple of actors behaving like idiots – what could be lovelier.

They are assisted in this endeavour by the director Gabriella Bird and of course the wonderful George Grossmith who wrote the famous book helped by the illustrations of his brother Weedon. Grossmith was of course a leading player with the Doyley Carter Opera Company as well as author in his own right..Having just seen another brilliantly funny show using Gilbert and Sullivans music (about Gilbert Express G and S], one wonders  if Victorian style humour is the flavour of the month or indeed the year of the pandemic.

This show takes place at the diminutive but cosy Jermyn Street Theatre in the middle of the West End. There is an interval and there is alcohol available as well as ice cream. Mr and Mrs is on until the end of JUly so book your seat while you can. It is very very funny.

R AND MRS NOBODY

TheDiary of a Nobody has been described by Evelyn Waugh as “The funniest book in the world” Well if not the funniest, it comes pretty near to it.

Carol  Ann Duffy – our ex poet Laureate has explored and poeticized the wives of many famous men in her humorous style In her book The World’s Wife.  In this play, Keith Waterhouse has taken Mrs Pooter, the wife of a not famous man – in fact a Nobody – and is giving us her thoughts as her pompous husband carries on with his life and his diary, Mrs Pooter is now writing her own version of the uninteresting events that interest her husband so much.

Of course, in the theatre, we all waited with bated breath for the most famous image – the painting of the bath. It is carried out with precision and perfectionperfecton by Edward Baker-Duly who gives us his handsome but daft Pooter

.Caroline Pooter is played with a kind of skittish girly charm and enormous sympathy by Mirancda Fosterrie, is played with enormous charm by Miranda Foster. She jins in his long lasting roars of laughter at his own jokes even though she knows his puns are not really very funny, but she allows himallowhelps him give himself the reputation of being a wit.

This episode in their lives deals with the famous painting sequences,the disastrous trip to the M

 as well as the tip to the Mayors ball at the Mansion House and the holiday in Broadstairs. In addiotion there are concerns aboutS

he is very concerned about their son Lupin who has constant problems with his 

Daisy his older girlfriend and his frequent dismissals from Charles’s boss. Mr Perkup, 

Miranda and Edward are enchanting and delicious. A beautiful couple of actors behaving like idiots – what could be lovelier.

They are assisted in this endeavour by the director Gabriella Bird and of course the wonderful George Grossmith who wrote the famous book helped by the illustrations of his brother Weedon. Grossmith was of course a leading player with the Doyley Carter Opera Company as well as author in his own right..Having just seen another brilliantly funny show using Gilbert and Sullivans music (about Gilbert Express G and S], one wonders  if Victorian style humour is the flavour of the month or indeed the year of the pandemic.

This show takes place at the diminutive but cosy Jermyn Street Theatre in the middle of the West End. There is an interval and there is alcohol available as well as ice cream. Mr and Mrs is on until the end of JUly so book your seat while you can. It is very very funny.