Theatre Review
Eleanor Pearson 19 March 2018 When Life Gives You Silver Creamers...Hunters Hill Theatre’s (HHT) Perfect Nonsense is light, frivolous, old-fashioned British comedy. But the stagecraft used to deliver this material “convincingly” (as the valet character Jeeves puts it) is quite an extraordinary achievement for a community theatre.
Picture the bachelor pad of a well-heeled English chap, name of Bertram Wooster (Jack Mitchell). British author P G Wodehouse’s comic creation, Bertram “Bertie” Wooster is a foppish fellow: Wooster: Sometimes I have moments when I think, “Do trousers matter?” Jeeves: The mood will pass. But what Bertie Wooster lacks in smarts, he makes up for in perfect amiability.
“Scratch Bertram Wooster and you will find a boy scout underneath.” Hence the drama. The drama involving one silver cow-shaped creamer. Yes… and - a covetous aunt, Bertie’s foolish best-friend, said-friend’s fiancée, her tyrannous magistrate father, and a number of duplicitous characters, all intent on turning Bertie Wooster’s days of leisure into a headache. These events are transformed into a play by Bertie Wooster, starring Wooster as himself, with his valets playing themselves (and all the other characters - male and female!) Wooster frequently addresses the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall (which this matinee audience reciprocated with laughter.) “I haven’t thought this one through.” (Mitchell’s Wooster understates beautifully, as he finds himself reenacting a bath-time scene in front of a hall of seated HHT patrons.) |
Perfect Nonsense |
Wooster’s elderly valet Jeeves is the true hero of this comedy (it’s fairly evident he knows this). Played drily by David Stewart-Hunter, Jeeves is the man with a pithy one-liner, and an exit-plan for each new misadventure of Wooster’s. He is also a master procurer of stage-props (behind the scenes, stage manager Carol Keeble has been thorough too!) As Wooster tells his story…the set magically grows ever bigger behind him, thanks to Jeeves, who is supported by Seppings, also a valet, with an affinity for impersonations (played with enthusiasm by Ross Alexander).
Christopher Hamilton’s set initially appears minimalistic, but it grows substantially, as the drama plays on. The show is prop-heavy, and reliant not only on the actors’ familiarisation with the flowery script, but on lighting and sound operator John Cross’s attentive overseeing of the action.
Sibling playwrights Robert and David Goodale are faithful to P G Wodehouse’s characterisation of Bertie Wooster. Wooster may not be the brains of the piece, but his character makes up for this with ebullient verbosity. In this role, Mitchell is gentlemanly and reveals a flair for physical comedy.
Christopher Hamilton’s set initially appears minimalistic, but it grows substantially, as the drama plays on. The show is prop-heavy, and reliant not only on the actors’ familiarisation with the flowery script, but on lighting and sound operator John Cross’s attentive overseeing of the action.
Sibling playwrights Robert and David Goodale are faithful to P G Wodehouse’s characterisation of Bertie Wooster. Wooster may not be the brains of the piece, but his character makes up for this with ebullient verbosity. In this role, Mitchell is gentlemanly and reveals a flair for physical comedy.
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Touches that lend stage magic include Wooster’s wired scarf fixed at a rakish angle to give the impression of a stiff breeze while driving a two-person vintage car; the villain Spode’s ever-growing stature (this is ingenious in itself); and a diminutive “Aberdeen terrier” which assumes a life of its own!
In this fun adaptation, directed by HHT president Maggie Scott, audience participation is a certainty, and a happy ending is assured. (Charleston dancing may be an added extra.) |
Perfect Nonsense plays until March 25, 2018
Hunters Hill Theatre
Season: 16 March - 25 March Address: 22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill, 2110 |
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