Well, the play certainly lived up to its title. Well almost. Nonsense it
most certainly was, Perfect? Far from it.
The
three superb individual performances from the production’s cast wasn’t enough
to paper over the cracks of a show with a woefully confusing or non-existent
storyline and tired gags.
So to start with the good; Ed Hancock as
Bertie Wooster was a loveable and energetic lead with great comic timing and
facial expressions with just enough restraint to stop the character being
irritating. He was a wonderful narrator for this tale but was a pity there
wasn’t more in the text for this talented actor to work with.
Similarly Jason Thorpe as Jeeves showed his versatility
as he moulded into a variety of other characters with a particular highlight
being in act two where he appears as Madeline and Sir Bassett at the same time!
Young Ones star Christopher Ryan showed his
experience in a number of roles showcasing both his vocal and physical theatre
abilities. The chemistry between the three actors was red hot and between them
they held this show together and kept the pace fast and slick.
The problem with this show was the script and
the repetition of the jokes. If you weren’t a fan of slapstick comedy before
you’re unlikely to be after this, with there being little else to keep you
engaged or occupied.
By the end of act one we were so lost in the
story that we didn’t care for the characters or the outcome. This show was
clearly for fans of Jeeves and Wooster but can’t see this production appealing
or welcoming a new wave of audiences.
Review by Andy Edmeads
Rating: ★★
