Felicity Kendal as Dotty Otley playing the slightly decrepit housekeeper Mrs Clackett mostly in charge of a plate of sardines is superb, Jonathan Coy as the sensitive and upper crust Frederick Fellowes just about managing to get through nosebleeds as Philip Brent the tax exile. Matthew Kelly as Selsdon Mowbray is hilarious : his role is simply billed as “burglar” which naturally entails an unexpected entry through the window, and Tracy-Ann Oberman fills the stage with glamour as Belinda Blair playing Flavia Brent, wife of the said Philip Brent the tax exile. With me so far? Good.

 

 

 

 

Joseph Millson gave an outstanding performance as Garry Lejeune an estate agent hoping to find an empty house in which to have his wicked way with Sasha Frost as Brooke Ashton. He had us crying with laughter in the first ten minutes of the action which is no mean feat. We felt the pain of Alexander Hanson as Lloyd Dallas the stressed director of the play who has one too many fingers in several romantic pies, along with Tim (Hubert Burton) the back of house underling who is required to do just about everything from a bit of carpentry to coming on at a moment’s notice in whatever part is suddenly without an actor. Pepter Lunkuse joins him back of house as Poppy Norton-Taylor responsible for continuity, prompts and of course sardines.

This is good old-fashioned farce at its very best, all done at breakneck speed with impeccable timing through multiple door slamming, prop failure, and trouser loss. The cast are fantastic, we couldn’t have laughed anymore without breaking a rib – definitely a must see!

Jacquie Vowles