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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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A fine body of evidence
Out of Order The Grange Players The Grange Playhouse, Walsall ***** SURELY genuine MPs wouldn’t get up to the
antics engaged in by Tory Junior Minister Richard Willey in this
hilarious farce by Ray Cooney . . . or would they? Instead of supporting the Prime Minister in a
House of Commons debate he moves into a plush suite at the Westminster
Hotel for a night of passion with an attractive married secretary from
the opposition camp. But his plans go badly wrong when he discovers
the body of an apparent intruder trapped under the dodgy, heavy sash
window opening onto a balcony, and wily Willey – who likes his
girlfriend to call him Dickey – begins a series of actions designed to
save his skin and avoid a scandal. Alan Lane is a hoot as the MP who has told his
wife he is at a late-night sitting of the House, coping superbly with
the twists and turn of the madcap plot, deftly popping in and out of
doors and through the open window to reach an adjoining room. And there is a magical performance from Adam
Worton, his nervous parliamentary private secretary George Pidgen, at
first reluctant to help his boss but gradually being drawn into the
search for a solution. His transformation from the squeaky clean
government employee to a randy womaniser in the desperate endeavour to
help his boss is remarkable . . . memorable clinches with Liz Webster
(the MP’s attractive wife, Pamela) and Fiona Costly (his mum’s nurse,
Gladys) earn generous applause. Becki Jay, appearing appealingly in her undies
for several scenes, impresses as bubbly blonde secretary Jane
Worthington, whose suspicious husband Ronnie (energetically played by
Adam Woodward) employs a private detective to keep an eye on her, and
David Stone is the amusing waiter always keen on a bung as he tries to
understand the crazy events in room 648. What a performance, too, from Alex Barzdo,
playing the ‘body’ of the private detective. Dragged from pillar to post
he has to cope with some astonishing punishment to make his demise
convincing. More than a week of this and he will start to wonder if he
is dead or alive. A fine cast is completed by David Weller as the
pompous hotel manager who even finds himself with his pants down at one
point, and Jill Simkin, the foreign maid. A stunning set designed by Tony Groves, Robert
Onions, Alex Barzdo and Sue Groves, so important to the play, works
particularly well, with the ‘killer’ sash window’s guillotine-like
descents timed to perfection. On opening night an unintentional incident amused
some eagle-eyed members of the audience who spotted one member of the
cast dialing a number of the suite’s phone, then another actor punching
in the numbers! A minor blip in a truly memorable production that sends
everyone home smiling. Directed by Chris Waters and produced by Jon Lea
Redmond and Jane James, to 18-01-14 Paul Marston |
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