YING TONG.

Leeds/London

YING TONG
by Roy Smiles

West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre) To 20 November 2004
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu 1.30pm Sat 2pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 0113 213 7700 (Leeds)

then New Ambassadors Theatre London
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 3pm
TICKETS: 0870 060 6627 (New Ambassadors)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 6 November

Bare patches between the fun and revelations.I've enjoyed Roy Smiles' plays on the London Fringe and admire director Michael Kingsbury for his work running south London's White Bear Theatre and for the one that got away from the Bear's hug to fame and fortune, Round the Horne Revisited. This play about the people who created innovative 1950s radio comedy series The Goons' is partially successful, and less a recreation of the comedy than a delve into the personal demons of writer-performer Spike Milligan.

The Milligoon may have been a genius; he could certainly be a first-class nervous wreck. The Goon episode opening the show is soon interrupted by his breakdown. There follows treatment in a psychiatric ward (James Clyde's Milligan spends most of the show in pyjamas, in hospital and when he first leaves his attic accommodation to meet fellow Goons-to-be Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers in the pub below), while his fantasies finally explode as an imaginary episode journeying into its begetter's psyche.

The Goons' chemistry, explosive enough in potential, receives little exploration while the nature of Goon comedy is largely left till a last minute lecturette. The impact of focusing on Spike himself is decidedly dubious. The formative experience in his life is said to have been World War II, an idea introduced clumsily late in the play. Director Kingsbury and designer Peter McKintosh use it to create a fine theatrical image, but having been glimpsed it disappears, underused by the script.

Which leaves the exploration of a breakdown. Kingsbury does his work well here, Milligan's mind transforming his companions into jokey leprechauns (small people and Irish to boot how dated humour easily becomes), programme announcer Wallace Greenslade merging into Mrs Milligan. The writing can be thin, assuming an automatic interest in Spike rather than creating understanding.

Clyde is recognisable but not especially sympathetic; Peter Temple is not especially recognisable, which is fair enough given Sellers' protean career. Christian Patterson shows demons aren't necessary for this life in a physically fine and vocally outstanding recreation of Secombe, while Jeremy Child's Greenslade is fittingly tactful, the straightest of straight-men in this crazy, insubstantial world.

Wallace Greenslade: Jeremy Child
Spike Milligan: James Clyde
Harry Secombe: Christian Patterson
Peter Sellers: Peter Temple

Director: Michael Kingsbury
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Lighting: Tony Simpson
Sound: Mic Pool
Composer: Richard Taylor
Company voice work: Penny Dyer

2004-11-13 10:57:00