I first saw this play years ago at The Old Vic and I laughed so much that I cried! So I couldn’t wait to see this production at the Lyric Hammersmith and, my goodness, this production doesn’t disappoint. Wow. Just wow.
Although this play feels like it is from a more gentle, innocent time, it is so cleverly done and funny that it is timeless.
The beginning of the first act feels a bit twee and painful, and you worry that could are going to be in for a long, lukewarm-amusing evening, but then it takes off into pure unadulterated brilliance. You would think that seeing the same act three times in a row would be boring but, in this show, it is anything but: it is creative, ingenious and brilliant. The second act is one of the best, funniest and most exhilarating (and exhausting!) scenes that I have ever seen. The lines are funny, the pace is furious and the coordination is timed to perfection - which it has to be, otherwise someone will end up with a serious injury!
The cast is simply fabulous: Meera Syal, Lois Chimimba, Jonathan Cullen, Debra Gillett, Amy Morgan, Enyi Okoronkwo, Lloyd Owen, Daniel Rigby and Simon Rouse are all amazing. Perfect timing, perfect comic timing, fabulous characterisation, exquisite delivery, and such a good team. They must have such a close and trusting relationship to pull off this show every night; and they must be exhausted at the end of every performance.
This show must be the inspiration behind The Play That Goes Wrong, but I think that it is even better and funnier because, even though it is also slapstick comedy, it feels more witty and clever.
Even though I know what is going to happen, I want to see this show again. If you want an evening where you can’t breathe because you’re laughing so much, or you just want to see breathtakingly perfect timing, grab a ticket for this show. You won’t be disappointed.