Reviews

Production Up Pompeii
Venue St. Michael’s Hall
Society Stone Revellers Musical Theatre
Director Mandy Gauge
Date 19 June 2024
Script Written by Miles Tredinnick

This was my very first visit to the town Stone therefore my first visit to Stone R. There was a warm welcome from some members of the committee as well as the front of house team.

Very often we are asked about a drink at the interval. However, this was the first time I have been asked whether I want fish ‘n’ chips! These were greatly enjoyed by the audience during the interval while the hard-working front of house staff delivered drink orders to people at their table.

Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Up Pompeii was of course a hugely popular TV comedy broadcast between 1969 and 1970. Like other comedies there are less episodes that we may think – a grand total of 13.  The series centred around the head slave, Lurcio played by Frankie Howerd.
The stage appeared well constructed. Three doors upstage,down stage a ‘stone’ bench, a step to a lower level. An image painted to the wall (more about this later) of the master (Ludicrus Sextus) and mistress of the house (Ammonia). A well down stage right and gates both stage left and right.

Matt Wright as Lurcio was unquestionably the bedrock of the play, with many of the mannerisms of Howerd. With plenty of ‘please yourself’ and talking aside to the audience as well as referring to the director and technical team, such as sound engineers, as ‘Stage Hands’ throughout. For example, miscued erruptions of Vesuvius and a ‘splash’ when dropping a key down the well. These were all very well delivered and believable. The character is continually attempting to do ‘The Prologue’ but never manages due to the interruptions as the play builds.

Ludicrus Sextus (played by Adam Fray) a senator, informs his wife Ammonia (played by Charl Andrews) he needs to travel to Rome to present his anti-vice bill on moral standardsannouncing he is ‘not having any of it’ (just the start of the double entendre we were in for!). He convinces Ammonia to go and visit her mother at Tedius in the countryside and take their daughter, Erotica (played by Hannah Adams). Erotica is enquiring how to spell words such as ‘fancy’, ‘desire’ and ‘bonking’ while ‘slating’ a friend.  Adam played the part with suitable conviction of having to do his duty as a senator (he has no intention of going to Rome at all!) while Charl plays on the double meaning well throughout the opening scenes. Hannah is wonderful in her sense of wanting fun.

Captain Treacherous played with what seemed great delight by Dan Tobias Lewis- Dayle threatens people with a journey on his slave ship described as a ‘Mediterranean cruise with no sun.’ His not so bright sidekick, Kretinus was played by Matt Giles with great fun.

Speaking of sidekicks there was Corneous, played by Rob Stanway. This time the side kick to Lurcio. Rob played the part extracting the humour of a ‘footman’ while also after Lurcio’s job (yes wanting to be head slave!).
Senna the Soothsayer (PC warning) politely referred to as ‘the old bag’ was full of woe woe and thrice woe played by Nichola Abbott who seemed to relish in the role.

Cara Fraser was wonderful as Suspenda (the well-known nymphomaniac and beauty), the real reason for sending Ammonia away to the country.

Nausius the innocent son of Ludicrus and Ammonia was played by a very smiley Joe Jenkinson. Nausius was an absolute joy in his naivety.

Voluptua a slave girl was played to the most by Claire Saunders who was so grateful to her rescuer she seemed to want to pay them back and not necessarily by looking at Nausius’s butterfly collection!

Chaos of course reins throughout with some wonderful lines. I must admit my favourite was probably at the end of act one delivered by Lurcio when Ludicrus is actively involved with Suspender ‘He can’t believe his luck! All he’s ever done are Agatha Christies.’ Chaos at the end has of course the pairings all together of Nausius and Voluptua, Corneous and Erotica and Ludicrus and Suspenda. All calling on Lurcio for his help.

I am sure there was the odd deviation from the scripted version of the play but these were well covered and rescued by the cast and always remaining in character during this true romp.

The audience loved this one and why not. The laughter was not just a ‘Titter’ but full laugh out loud. This was a truly funny show brining out the best of the comedy of the day.

I most certainly look forward to seeing Stone Revellers again in the future.

Next on the programme is the wonderfully scripted play by Agatha Christie ‘And Then There Were None’ in September 2024.
Congratulations to all involved whether on stage, back stage or on the production team.

REVIEW BY: Andy Brown – NODA

© NODA CIO.  All rights reserved

NODA West Midlands District 3 – Stone Revellers

I must firstly state that The 39 Steps, is one of my favourite film to stage plays. The film version with Kenneth Moore is instantly watchable no matter what part of the story I happen to see it at.

The stage comedy farce is pure genius – it is so close to the film version, yet just tipped over the edge from serious spy thriller into utter hilarity through the skilled interpretation of the films characters by the multiple part playing cast, a delight to watch and probably the most fun you could have on stage this side of pantomime.

Patrick Barlow’s comedy of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps is adapted from an earlier stage version by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon of Hitchcock’s 1935 film based on John Buchan’s 1915 novel The Thirty-Nine Steps.

The innocent man on the run, Richard Hannay – Sean Galloghly, falsely accused of murdering spy Annabella Schmitt in his London flat, follows her clues to the Scottish Highlands to meet someone to answer the question, ‘What are the 39 Steps’? Just how are they a danger to the British Isles? I loved the momentary pause to hear his ever glowing radio announcer wanted man description.

Jen MacEachan plays German spy Annabella, Teacher Pamela and Highland Farmer’s wife Margaret. Great platform for her talents bringing the different characters to life.

Almost every other role often several at a time, covered with much aplomb and hilarity by Matt Wright and Rob Stanway, subtly aided and abetted throughout by stagehands Matt Giles, Mick Duckworth and Neil Norman.

The 39 Steps is a rip roaring romp, fabulously stylish. Hitchcock theme music utilised throughout, Psycho, North by Northwest, The Dick Barton Theme, aurally adding to the manic controlled chaos.

Kath Stanway Directed up a storm, The famous Flying Scotsman Forth Road Bridge scene, The Scottish farmer was a hoot and then some, with his constantly attached pitchfork, even at the supper table, his saying of grace was comic gold. The blood hounds scouring the glen, say no more.

Absolutely terrific fun, from start to finish.

Review by
Alan Bruce
Regional Representative NODA West Midlands District 3
Buy tickets at: stonerevellers.org.uk

STONE REVELLERS
present
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

Beg, Borrow or beg some more for a ticket to see this show. It promised an incredible night of comedy. It delivered, in fact it was better than that!
Based on The Servant With Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, author Richard Bean’s comedy masterpiece is a wickedly funny seaside farce set in Brighton in 1963.

As Director Harri Bailey so succinctly put it “the script is a work of genius filled with technical, physically demanding challenges”. Challenges she, together with her talented cast presented impeccably.

The play itself follows the story of Francis, brilliantly portrayed by Alec Voss who gets himself into a lot of trouble after taking on two jobs as both turn out to be with high profile gangsters.

All is not what it seems as events become more and more confusing for Francis, who tries desperately to stay on top of his lies and serve both Guvnors at the same time!

Alec’s portrayal was amazingly physical, he worked the audience to perfection, involving them at times to great comic effect. Hats off to you sir.
He provides muscle for Guvnor One, Kath Walton as Roscoe Crabbe. He’s also manservant to Guvnor Two, boarding school graduate, Stanley Stubbers; played by Leo Capernaros. Equally demanding, equally nasty in their own way or are they?

The strong cast all brought their collective ‘A’ Game to the production, superb timing, slap stick, just plain funny, great really well observed performances all round. I don’t want to single anyone else out but just must mention Alfie the doddering geriatric trainee waiter; Mark ‘Noz’ Norris, who was a joy to watch.

Performed across two split stages, literally putting the audience right in the middle of the chaos. The only pc part of this show was Chris Povey as the Police Constable, one of his many roles.

Fantastic evocative backing music used throughout the show, great sound, very effective lighting. I am reliably informed that No Australian’s were hurt in the production of this show!

I’ve not seen anything quite this funny for a very long time.

One Man, Two Guvnors runs from Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th September at St. Michael’s Hall, Stone.

Review by Alan Bruce