'Allo 'Allo

On entering the hall you were taken straight into the atmosphere of a French café in a 1940’s provincial town – greeted by front of house staff in French inspired outfits to a hall strewn with tables set with French flags (and plates of French bread) and decorated with bunting. The set was extremely well designed and good use was made of the small stage with a split level. By the simple use of curtains, change of props and lighting the set was easily transformed from café, to German offices to cinema. Stuart McMain was outstanding as café owner Rene Artois with impeccable sense of comic timing and wonderful facial expressions. Hilary Esson as his wife Edith was a delight with her off-key singing eliciting both grimaces and laughter from the audience. Colin Jones as Herr Otto Flick, the Gestapo agent, imbued the character with just the right amount of comic menace - whether it was in his trade mark leather coat or in fishnet tights and heels as a sexy cinema usherette! Erik Esson as Lt Hubert Gruber played the character with the right amount of understated camp – his innuendo laden conversations with the object of his affections Rene were hilarious. Kerwin Robertson as Col. Kurt Von Strom and Patrick Hughes as Capt. Alberto Bertorelli made a great comedy duo, almost Laurel and Hardy – esque, in their attempts to get the hidden Madonna painting. Camilla Overland as Resistance Officer Michelle Dubois and John Drysdale as Officer Crabtree, the pidgeon French – speaking policeman gave strong performances. Strong supporting performances were given by Robyn McRitchie (Yvette Carte-Blanche), Sara Stewart (Mimi Labonq), Mary Sommerville (Pvt. Helga Geerhart) and John Milne (General Von Schmelling). Special mention must be made of young Christopher Connon who took on the part of M. Roger Leclerc at short notice and of Lindsey Masson as Mme. Edith’s accompanist. A hilarious evening’s entertainment from start to finish!

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