Charley's Aunt

‘Charley’s Aunt’ was written by English actor / playwright Brandon Thomas. There have been 35 TV and film adaptations of this 120-year old play.  It is being presented at the Garrick Theatre, 16 Meadow Street, Guildford. The two and a half hour performances start at 8.00 pm and run nightly until the 30^th April.  The two Sunday matinees are on the 10^th and 24^th April at 2.00 pm.

        To the strains of the 'Eton Boating Song' the curtains rise to reveal the student rooms of Oxford Undergraduate Jack Chesney (Michael Munroe). It is the summer of 1892 and the self-centred, conniving Jack is very much in love with innocent Amy (Ella Churchwood), the ward of the miserable Mr Spettigue (Tim Prosser). Jack is trying to compose a billet-doux without much success, blaming the interruptions of the tolerant batman, Brassett (Geoffrey Fairclough).

         When fellow student, Charley Wykeham (David Ellis) arrives, Jack immediately tries to scrounge some money from him, only to find that he too is poverty stricken. In fact Charley is looking for money to treat his new love, Kitty (Zoe Hollyoak) – the ward of Mr Spettigue.

         As the two young men cannot afford to take the girls out, then they must ask them back to their room, in 1892 a definite no-no, they need a lady chaperone to be present. Charley points out that his millionaire Aunt, Donna Lucia (Olivia Darby - impressive), whom he has never seen is arriving soon from South America with her new ward, Ela (Ann-Marie Biagioni). In the meanwhile they could always get their eccentric young friend, Lord Babberley (Tom Camp) to dress up as an old woman, and should anyone call give the name of Donna Lucia.

         Indeed there are many callers, including Jack’s father, Sir Frank Chesney (Vince Austin) and Mr Spettigue, both of whom, on learning of Donna Lucia’s wealth are happy to forget her lack of good looks and propose marriage.

        With such a shambles will anyone get married in the end?

This is a very old play, however, despite the age it is wearing very well. The script of the first Act was a little slow, but the second and third extremely funny. With this being her first play as director, Linda Redman showed she has a real flair. The cast were quite young and inexperienced, yet they captured the toffee-nosed, upper-class English accents perfectly and superb comedy timing. The pace was wonderful, so important in a good comedy. The rapport and chemistry between the whole cast was amazing. Tim Prosser, who has proved his talents many times, was delightful as the miserable, strict old uncle who became an excited, bubbling youngster at the thought of marriage.

Lavish costumes sourced and matched by Ailsa Travers and Leyla Pizzino, with spats and cravats for the men and period jewellery for the women, literally topped off with the coiffure of the era by Linda Stubbs.

The sets, built by George Boyd, Liam Kirwan and Brendan Tobin, were ingenious. Three very different locations, an old fashioned panelled living room, a beautiful summer garden filled with plants and garden furniture and a private, homely sitting room. Taking into consideration that the theatre has no wings, the flats had to be rotatable. The props and little trimmings that give that extra touch of authenticity were numerous; even a metronome on the piano and quality crockery. With all this, stage manger Wendy Goodwin and her deputy Marion West certainly had to work hard. The well designed and operated lighting by Matthew Varmey put the final touches.

A very strong cast, with professional performance and highest standards at all theatrical levels. A terrific night out.