'Allo' Allo!

I was fortunate to attend the opening night of Ozzy Players latest production. "Allo" Allo! It was pleasing to see such a sizeable audience on this wet Wednesday evening. I am even more delighted to say that they enjoyed this play as much as I did. Indeed one couple commented on the way out "Eh, it's much better than staying in and watching the telly." The Civic Theatre has, due to the foresight of the local council, been given a stay of execution. If the theatre and its users continue to stage productions like this it is public money well spent; a tangible investment into the well-being of the community it serves. 

Of all the adaptations of popular well-loved TV 30 minute comedies, "Allo Allo" is arguably the one that offers most scope for societies to let their hair down and really send up the original, (if that is possible.)  Cafe owner, Rene, never one to walk away from a crisis was played with confidence and passion by Anthony Moorcroft. Lascivious, crafty and always one step ahead of the Germans, Mr. Moorcrot is to be applauded (and he was!) for holding the play together. His instant rapport with the audience from the very start was engaging. You felt you really were part of the intrigue, being let into intimate secrets. Just between ourselves as it were. The plot is concerned with Rene and his compatriots keeping hold of a valuable painting and trying valiantly to stop it getting into the hands of the Gestapo or the local general who plans to present it as a gift to Hitler. Much fun ensues. The episodes with Rene and the troublesome sausage concealed beneath his apron and the antics with the inflatable Hitler doll were magic moments. The actors relished every second of them. The four respectable ladies on the row behind me were doubled up with laughter with tears running down their faces. They were not the only ones. Laughter is such a release and so good for you. Thank you Oswaldtwistle Players for serving it up in such large measure. All the supporting players were on top form. Shelley Holman sparkled as Edith. The German officers were excellent. I love to see Nazis ridiculed. John Dewhurst was a wonderfully rounded, in more ways than one, Colonel. I greatly enjoyed his wiglet scene. Yes, John it really did take years off you by the way, is it your own? Captain Bertorelli, straight from servicing Fiats, was dressed immaculately and carried the part of this Italian fop off to a tee.

I must, at this point, give my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in costuming this production. There were no approximations of uniforms as often seen. No this was the real McCoy. Likewise, all the properties, so many of them, were in keeping with the era. Danielle Patchett and her team deserve a big thank you and much respect.

Herr Flick managed, well almost, to keep a straight face throughout. Martyn Pugh is an accomplished actor. His reprise of this role was well-timed. And so we come to Crabtree, the most memorable of all the characters from the TV series. Paddy McDonough was the spitting image of his televisual counterpart. He gave us a moist conniving French kipper, (copper if you were wondering) lurking every pinch like the orange Al. Well, I think that is what the person sitting next to me concluded. All the other actors were excellent. The nonspeaking customers retained their concentration from start to finish. 

The set was as we expected with left and right extensions and the scenes played in front of the curtain working well.

The two directors, Clare Highton and Joyce Teasdale moved their actors around the stage with skill. The pace never lagged and the use of the downstage area helped the actors project over the dead space. Clare and Joyce ensured that their actors were enjoying themselves. iI is so easy to do farce badly. When that happens the result is a disaster. This however was a triumph.

I chortled, I smiled, I laughed out loud. The cast received a generous yet fully deserved lengthy round of applause from the well-entertained audience at the curtain call.  My thanks to the entire company front and backstage. "Eh, it beats a night watching telly, doesn't it?"

PRM.

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