Presented by Lunchbox Theatre Productions
Reviewed 30 August 2016
With music from the era playing as you take your seat at the theatre, it doesn’t take long to get into the mood for a little Wodehouse magic. P G Wodehouse created his characters early last century but his sense of fun is timeless and enjoys poking fun at stiff boring characters: very enjoyable as long as you are not looking for deep meaning, and I wasn’t.
Act one opens with Wooster ruminating in an armchair and being his usual boisterous self. Matthew Carter is Bertie and is having enormous fun recreating this favourite icon for us. The perfect foil is Joseph Chance as Jeeves, always in control and with the best deadpan face in town. Completing the entertaining trio is Robert Goodale as Seppings the elderly butler, who is also co-author of this play. These three play a multitude of characters, both male and female with costume changes fast enough to make your head spin. If that is not enough they build a pretty good set whilst Wooster is bouncing from one side of the stage to the other.
Act two opens with Bertie in the bath, complete with bubbles and him declaring he hasn’t had to get out of the bath in front of hundreds of people before. As the scenes changed, the set kept up, nothing slowed them down. It is true that much of the comedy is predictable, but that is part of the charm. The cast keep doing what Wodehouse characters have been doing for decades, and they do it well.
Part of the appeal of this production is based on nostalgia with a large helping of fun. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It is obviously dated, but it is clever and witty and it makes people laugh – there should be more of it.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Grote St
Season: 30 August – 3 Sept 2016
Duration: 2hr 5mins
Tickets: Adult $99.90, Conc $89.90,
Bookings: BASS 08 8205 2220
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