The Messiah

‘The Messiah’, a hilarious play written by Patrick Barlow is the latest Black Swan Theatre Company production. It is showing at The Playhouse in Perth at 7.30 each evening until 22^nd July.

Desmond Dingle (Max Gillies) is a cross between Sir Lawrence Olivier and Stanley Holloway, a serious thespian and play producer  who wishes to put on a Nativity Play to beat any other production ever seen.

Dingle intends using animals, a cast of hundreds, a spectacle so vast that the Edinburgh Tattoo is just a mere speck in the programme. However he has only Raymond (David Lee Smyth) a pathetic individual who is not only etymologically challenged, but a sad blend of the qualities of Frank Spencer and Mr Bean. The Nativity performance is reminiscent of ‘Cosi’. It is filled with enthusiasm, naivety.

No part of Mary and Joseph’s struggle goes untouched.

Handel’s Messiah makes the odd brief appearance thanks to Mrs Flowers (Rosemary Barr) who supplies the music when required – and occasionally when not required. She also has ‘the hots’ for Raymond. There is a small amount of audience participation, but don’t worry, not that dreaded embarrassing type that one gets at pantomimes, but genuinely funny involvement.

This play took a couple of minutes for the audience to get on the same wave length as the humour, but once it got going the smiles soon turned to chortles and onto eye watering humour. Max Gillies was a brilliant straight man, cleverly feeding his wet partner Raymond. David lee Smyth – a Perth trained Irish man – was outstanding. What a clever slick duo!! Yet another quality spectacle from directors Tom Gutteridge and Adam Mitchell, they milked every ounce of fun from the situations.

First class technical back up.

Even if the topic doesn’t appeal, try it and enjoy the best laugh for months.