With a new season that is packed with comedy, Chester Little Theatre have started as they mean to go on with a beautifully crafted production of ‘Allo ‘Allo.
Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft enjoyed great success with stage adaptations of their much-loved TV classic, and Lisa Miller directs a cast of 20 in a production that showcases the versatility and comic timing of the Chester company.
Rather than trying to create a single, new plot line for the stage, Lloyd and Croft sensibly encapsulate much of the familiar material from the original, with particular focus on several knockwurst sausages, in which copies of the treasured painting of the Fallen Madonna may or may not be secreted. Whilst café owner Rene Artois wrangles with the delivery of a new radio, concealed by the French resistance within a stuffed cockatoo, a series of events lead Colonel von Strohm and Herr Flick of the Gestapo to demand back their secret sausages. Rene’s wife Edith however has inconveniently had ideas of her own about the painting, leading to what you might call a wurst-case scenario for Rene.
Miller has achieved some splendid casting, with particular success in the roles of Rene and Edith. After much deserved acclaim for his Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Alexander Davies has absolutely nailed the characterization of Rene, perfectly balancing his interaction with the other characters with his a side dialogue to the audience. His head cocked aside whilst his hands are busy polishing glasses really captures those familiar wry asides to camera. Anne Mellows meanwhile is equally at home as the sprightly Edith, whose singing causes the entire café to plug their ears.
If Michelle of the resistance ‘Says this only once’ she says it a thousand times, and Rhiannon White has all the shifty mannerisms perfectly. Meanwhile Alison Knott and Marie-Clare Ashcroft keep Rene on his toes as the ardent pair of admiring waitresses Yvette and Mimi.
Two real highlights are Jac Wardle as Crabtree (that English idiot who thinks he can speak French) and Haluk Saglam as Alberto Bertorelli – this Italian who was introduced on screen in season four was never as funny in the hands of his originator Gavin Richards as he is in Saglam’s outstanding characterization.
Meanwhile Kieran Egan is a larger-than-life Otto Flick, with a terrifying roar, with Jessica Toyne opposite him as Helga Geerhart. Meanwhile John McGinn puts in a witty turn as master of disguise Monsier Leclerc (man of a thousand faces – all of them the same).
Special mention must be made of debut performer George Wheatcroft, who appears here alongside K C Finn as one of the pair of British airmen in a series of brief but hysterical cameos. Plaudits too go to the crew who built the impressive and versatile set, recreated the musical score, and achieve the miracle of stage management for this big cast.
All in all this is a joyous and immensely entertaining opener to the new season, and deservingly seems to be garnering an enthusiastic box office reception, so hurry if you want to snap up one of the VERY few remaining tickets!
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| Production photography by Stephen Cain |
This review was originally written for publication by Good News Liverpool
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