Are you being served
Thu, 19 Aug 2010, 08:34 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
Are you being served
Thu, 19 Aug 2010, 08:34 am‘Are you being served’ by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is the stage version of the 1977 film script, based on the tremendously popular TV series. The starting time of this 2-hour production is 8.00 pm., with Sunday matinees at 2.00pm. The show runs at the Marloo Theatre, Marloo Road, Greenmount until the 11th September.
The curtain rises on a very good representation of the Grace Brothers store department, where Mr Mash (Ray Condy) is polishing down – or should it be touching up – the mannequins. The staff, led by a pregnant Miss Brahms (Kirsty MacDonald), drifts into work. Mrs Slocombe (Anita Bell) gets stuck in the lift and we get a quick flash of her beloved pussy as she climbs out. Mr Grainger (Geoff Rumsey) arrives just in time before his prostate gives out.
Supervisor Captain Peacock (Keith Scrivens) calls the floor staff together to announce that young Mr Grace (Adrian Ashman) will award the team a holiday in Spain if they sell plenty of German goods. Dressing in the appropriate lederhosen, sales go well and Mr Rumbold (Russell Carter) books their one-star hotel!
Whilst the nurse (Rachel Morgan) administers the necessary injections to Mr Lucas (Callan Neale) a Scotsman (Raymond Morrison) in a kilt arrives to buy a pair of trousers, poor Miss Brahms and Mrs Slocombe have to attend to him. Then whilst the ladies are being injected, Mr Humphries (Justin Stevens) has to deal with a delicate complaint from a lady customer (Lee Thompson).
Eventually the troupe set off for a warmer climate, and at this stage the comedy turns into a very funny farce as the holiday romances start.
I arrived in Marloo’s newly decorated foyer for the opening night – as listed on this site – only to find that it was in fact the final dress rehearsal. No matter, the performance was excellent; I have seen shows half way through their run which wouldn’t have been nearly so good.
The sets were outstanding, with several major changes, carried out in total silence. Set artwork by Richard Coleman and Callan Neale was well above average. The ‘special props’ were hilarious, and their movement brilliantly executed. The lighting design by Ray Hopwell worked well, although perhaps a strobe might have helped at one part of the story to give a bit more kick. Norm Kirton’s sound effects were most effective.
Many congratulations to the two costume girls, Marjorie de Caux and Kirsty MacDonald, for the many well-designed outfits ranging from sexy to outrageous. Director Ann Hopwell had the whole cast word and accent perfect, with the characterisations amazingly accurate. Mrs Slocombe, Miss Brahms and Mr Grainger were just straight from the screen. Although the actors’ delivery was admirable, many of the double-entendres were lost on the audience and perhaps, in places, a little more blatant delivery could help squeeze out all of the laughs. Great comedic performances all round.
As the advertising says – ‘English comedy at its best’. Another superb production from Marloo.
‘Are you being served’ by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is the stage version of the 1977 film script, based on the tremendously popular TV series. The starting time of this 2-hour production is 8.00 pm., with Sunday matinees at 2.00pm. The show runs at the Marloo Theatre, Marloo Road, Greenmount until the 11th September.
The curtain rises on a very good representation of the Grace Brothers store department, where Mr Mash (Ray Condy) is polishing down – or should it be touching up – the mannequins. The staff, led by a pregnant Miss Brahms (Kirsty MacDonald), drifts into work. Mrs Slocombe (Anita Bell) gets stuck in the lift and we get a quick flash of her beloved pussy as she climbs out. Mr Grainger (Geoff Rumsey) arrives just in time before his prostate gives out.
Supervisor Captain Peacock (Keith Scrivens) calls the floor staff together to announce that young Mr Grace (Adrian Ashman) will award the team a holiday in Spain if they sell plenty of German goods. Dressing in the appropriate lederhosen, sales go well and Mr Rumbold (Russell Carter) books their one-star hotel!
Whilst the nurse (Rachel Morgan) administers the necessary injections to Mr Lucas (Callan Neale) a Scotsman (Raymond Morrison) in a kilt arrives to buy a pair of trousers, poor Miss Brahms and Mrs Slocombe have to attend to him. Then whilst the ladies are being injected, Mr Humphries (Justin Stevens) has to deal with a delicate complaint from a lady customer (Lee Thompson).
Eventually the troupe set off for a warmer climate, and at this stage the comedy turns into a very funny farce as the holiday romances start.
I arrived in Marloo’s newly decorated foyer for the opening night – as listed on this site – only to find that it was in fact the final dress rehearsal. No matter, the performance was excellent; I have seen shows half way through their run which wouldn’t have been nearly so good.
The sets were outstanding, with several major changes, carried out in total silence. Set artwork by Richard Coleman and Callan Neale was well above average. The ‘special props’ were hilarious, and their movement brilliantly executed. The lighting design by Ray Hopwell worked well, although perhaps a strobe might have helped at one part of the story to give a bit more kick. Norm Kirton’s sound effects were most effective.
Many congratulations to the two costume girls, Marjorie de Caux and Kirsty MacDonald, for the many well-designed outfits ranging from sexy to outrageous. Director Ann Hopwell had the whole cast word and accent perfect, with the characterisations amazingly accurate. Mrs Slocombe, Miss Brahms and Mr Grainger were just straight from the screen. Although the actors’ delivery was admirable, many of the double-entendres were lost on the audience and perhaps, in places, a little more blatant delivery could help squeeze out all of the laughs. Great comedic performances all round.
As the advertising says – ‘English comedy at its best’. Another superb production from Marloo.