'Allo 'Allo

On a balmy evening in June when England are playing in the Euros’ in a little corner of Bolton, the cast of ‘ALLO ‘ALLO are playing to a packed house watching the characters come to life of the nostalgic British sitcom series aired in the early 1980’s of Rene a café owner who works for the Resistance in occupied France. Written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft. The two writers are responsible for many favourite sitcoms penned over the years.

Fans of ‘ALLO ‘ALLO know what they are in for with stock characters and their catch phrases. Bolton Little Theatre stay true to the set and characters. Walking into the auditorium we are entertained with an accordionist Rob Howard dressed in French striped top and beret. Rob then plays the theme tune to the televised show and also has some interaction with Rene, this is repeated after the interval. Lovley touch.

The main action is set in the café with curved bar to Stage Left and spirits on the wall behind. Café table and bistro chairs are the dotted around the room. Large window and door to the outside at the back Stage Right and outside can be seen through the window. CAFE RENE is on the window and we see the reverse of this and a lace net is on the lower half of the window. Middle back wall steps lead out to the upstairs framed by an arch. More doors lead to the kitchen and cellar. A piano is on the back wall Stage Left. The colour scheme is muted and wood and a dado rail in wood is visible on some walls. A hat stand is Stage Right. Pictures and flags then adorn the set. For the other scenes in the German office, cinema, bedroom and back room at the café. The table and chairs are moved back and some of the set in flown in adding to the quick scene changes. Set Design Helen Livesey.  Set Construction Jeff Lunt, Simon Mott, Andrew Gradwell, Steve Butler, Lorna O’Keefe, Ahmad Sadeghi, Sarah Khameeree, Helen Livesey and Jad Mulraney. Fly Operation Paul Roberts. I bet the props team had fun getting them together. Including a life-size blow-up Hitler, various large sausages, parrot cage with parrots, two full sized Edam cheese to mention a few. Props by Judith Leigh, Simon Mott and Jade Mulraney.  Wardrobe was full on with a lot costume changes including many people dressed as Hitler and Goering.  Hair and make-up all looked in keeping. Wardrobe by Janet Hardman and Judith Leigh. Lighting and Sound all added to complete the show. Sound by Gareth Preston. Lighting by Peter Gower, John Lyon and Jim Walton.

 

Director Richard Leigh stays true to the script and the casting worked well - some of the characters the spit of the TV versions. The cast looked to be having a great time on stage which transcended to the audience, who were with the story all the way.  This cast of eighteen and the staging worked well, with larger-than-life characters and the story line getting more absurd Richard wasn’t afraid to go big which worked.  Richard also played the sex mad Capt. Alberto Bertorelli complete with Italian accent who ends up playing one of the many Hitler’s. Richard also worked well with Chris Hill playing Col. Von Strohm who only wanted to look youthful. Very funny with the wig and tag. Well played.

Chelsea Nelson played a French peasant. Connor Beckwith and Jim Smith played German Soldiers. The imposing Gen. von Schmelling with a limp and eye patch is played by Paul Ward.  Ashley Foster played Flt. Lt Carstairs and Ben Latham played Flt. Lt. Fairfax. The Resistance are hiding them in the café until they can be picked up. They are hiding in plain sight as we first encounter them, then pop up in the piano, but what was hilarious was when they are in the café dressed as women with full handle bar type moustache. Hilarious. 

Mark Weatherall played the chef Monsieur LeClere whose entrance was usually one liners then told to go away by Rene - very funny. The little pocket rocket Mimi Labonq was played by Nicola Bateson and the sexy Yvette Carte-Blanche played by Ania Pankiewwicz both in love with Rene and playing around under his wife’s nose.

Officer Crabtree a British agent played by Mike Thomas whose interesting interpretation of a French accent almost needed subtitles. The concealment of the large sausage and where it was placed and the two edam cheeses was done well and the audience loved it. It got to a point with his entrances that you knew something was going to come out of his cloak and the anticipation made it funnier. Along with Sue Mallet playing Michelle Dubios leader of the resistance who has a costume change with every entrance and you had to listen very carefully to her as she says it “only once” probably one of the most remembered lines from the series.

Ashley Hambrook playing Lt. Guber a German officer, great characters and the innuendoes land well as did the whole getting the situation wrong with Rene. Bless him. Loved the innocence about him. Judith Leigh as Helga Geerhart looked the part and her stand offishness and stilted sexuality worked well with the very bizzare Herr Flick the Gestapo officer played by Joel Cheetham, who only has eyes for himself and his line “sit there so you can admire my profile” says it all. The stiff leg only added to the comedy and I loved the mishap when Helga put his coat on over the walking stick. If it wasn’t meant to be like that, I hope you kept it in. Very Funny. Not to mention walking in heels Joel. Excellent character.

Catherine Henderson took on the role of Edith Artois the long-suffering wife of Rene. Great sense of timing and enough to be an irritating character without irritating the audience if that makes sense. Edith sings - well what can I say, just that when the characters in the cafe put paper in their ears it was so funny. Edith also gets to be Hitler and that was pure comedy. Last but not least the title role of Rene Artois was played by Simon Mott, who drove through the plot with his asides to the audience and dealing with well, frankly incompetence from people. Simon was believable and actually looked and sounded like the character, his accent spot-on. The cast worked well together to faithfully portray these larger-than-life characters and the audience were buzzing as they left into the balmy night in a little corner in Bolton.

Thank you for an enjoyable evening from my guest Angela and I.

District rep 5

Liz Hume-Dawson

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