CHARLEY'S AUNT: Thomas, touring till 20 August

Tour.

CHARLEY’S AUNT
by Brandon Thomas.

Heartbreak Productions: Tour to 20 August 2008.
Runs: 2hr 30min One interval.
Review: Alan Geary 28 June at Nottingham Castle.

Besides being funny it’s also quite touching.
Leamington Spa-based Heartbreak Productions (www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk) are gaining a following in Nottingham, which is unsurprising since they seem to be getting better with each visit. A good-humoured crowd enjoyed this open-air Charley’s Aunt.

Despite its fame it’s not actually a typical farce: no trousers drop, it’s more coincidence-driven than are later examples of the genre and there are fewer than the now statutory five doors opening and closing - in this production, since it was an ultra-minimalist set, there are no real doors at all. There are however some jokey sound effects of doors being slammed as well as a piano being played, all of which adds to the fun.

A virtue is made also of the doubling-up of roles, particularly at the end when the excellent Zoe Mortimer plays Kitty and Ela simultaneously. Martin Tomms is also very good as both the greedy Mr Spettigue and Brassett, the working-class put-upon dogsbody who buttles for Jack.

The two silly asses are done well, although Alex Freeborn (Jack) seemed a bit hoarse at the start. Both he and Laurence Aldridge, whose character, Fancourt Babberley, has to get into drag to be the bogus Aunt, achieve the pace and timing essential in farce.

Director John Terry has shifted proceedings from the 1890s to the twenties, which allows for some nice additional extras by way of the singing of silly period songs by the whole cast, and a splendid tap routine from Helen Terry and Jonathan Wadey between scenes.

Besides being funny it’s also quite touching. At the end there’s a reconciliation scene and, once the confusion has cleared, three couples engaged to be wed.

Cast:
Alex Freeborn.
Laurence Aldridge.
Helen Terry.
Jonathan Wadey.
Zoe Mortimer.
Martin Tomms.

Director: John Terry.
Designer: Hilary Statts.
Musical Arrangers: Martin Tomms/Laurence Aldridge.

2008-07-10 00:56:32