TONS OF MONEY. To 20 August.
Southwold/Aldeburgh.
TONS OF MONEY
by Will Evans and Valentine adapted by Alan Ayckbourn.
St Edmund's Hall Southwold To 13 August.
Mon-Fri 8pm Sat 5pm & 8.15pm.
then Jubilee Hall Aldeburgh 16-20 August 2005.
Tue-Fri 8pm Sat 5pm & 8.15pm.
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.
TICKETS: 01502 724441 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat 11am-1pm).
01502 722389 (Mon-Fri 5pm-9.30pm; Sat 2pm-9.30pm) (Southwold).
01728 453007 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat 11am-2pm).
01728 454022 (Mon-Fri 6pm-8pm Sat 4pm-8pm) (Aldeburgh).
Tons of Money provokes gales of laughter.
This early 1920s Aldwych Farce, touched up by Alan Ayckbourn for a 1990s National Theatre revival, is near total unrealism. But the realistic aspect is on the surface, combining with theatre's old friend and necessary companion the willing suspension of disbelief to take us on a mirthful rollercoaster through improbable happenings that could just be possible given people's willingness to believe what they find convenient, and to accept strange things if they fit their context.
Aubrey Allington's home has at least 3 servants, despite a pile of unpaid bills. A sudden legacy seems to resolve his problems, but twists in its tale lead his ever-inventive wife Louise to schemes that combine with others' plans, resulting in 3 variations on the same bearded character stalking the house. It begins to resemble a fancy-dress parade for Bernard Shaw look-alikes.
Celia White gives Louise a smiling demeanour only a little troubled by all those bills. Aubrey ignores them with a smile; it's when his wife's stratagems disturb his blithe routine that he grows distressed, in appearance and manner. Richard Teverson manages this with a manner that bespeaks good social background, and has the seriousness necessary to engender laughter in the audience.
He's joined in this by the servant class, principally Richard Syms' conniving butler and Trevor Ray's phlegmatic gardener. Jeffrey Perry's solicitor pops-in perpetually with the soliciting manner to the life, while Michael Shaw's bewildered imposter and Jonathan Jones' irate straight-man are both perfect. There's comparatively little for the women, though Moyna Cope shows the required maiden aunt to be as sharp of mind as she is hard of hearing.
Given the show's brevity, it's a pity Richard Frost's skilful production does away with the second interval, making for a huge wad of plot in one go. This might be why the final act loses some impetus. There again, however well-rehearsed, farces never fully lock into place till the audience have had their say in terms of laughter. By the second half of the Southwold run, and in Aldeburgh, this active, inventive and skilfully-played production should have reached its peak.
Sprules: Richard Syms.
Simpson: Laura Hayes.
Miss Benita Mullett: Moyna Cope.
Aubrey Henry Maitland Allington: Richard Teverson.
Louise Allington: Celia White.
Giles: Trevor Ray.
James Chesterman: Jeffrey Perry.
Jean Everard: Rebecca Steele.
Henery: Michael Shaw.
George Maitland: Jonathan Jones.
Director: Richard Frost.
Designer: Maurice Rubens.
Lighting: Ben Payne.
Costume: Richard Handscombe.
2005-08-04 09:37:30