'Allo 'Allo 2 - The Camembert Caper

Listen very carefully; I shall say this only once.  ‘The Camembert Caper’ is the second of two plays based on the BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo.  It features all the well-known characters from the popular television programme that ran from 1982 to 1992.  The Paget Rooms hosted Penarth Operatic and Dramatic Society’s offering and it was a pleasure to be there once again.

The audience were treated to lovely music on the piano from Chris Glynn as they entered.  Chris was also joined by Lauren Farnham, who played Mimi Labonq and who sang along nicely before the production and during the interval. 

One thing I’ve come to learn about this society’s plays is that their set design and construction is always excellent.  This time was no different.  The stage was divided into four distinctive playing areas with working entrances and exits as well as some clever touches that were important in the plot.  Really well thought out and delivered.  Well done all.

On to the cast.  Given the television programme’s popularity, the audience would have come with their own set ideas of how they wanted each character to be portrayed.  In his programme notes, director, Alex Wilson was clear he wanted to encourage the cast to deliver these characters whilst also adding their own flair.  The cast did a great job of this in the main and they should be congratulated for this.

As café owner René Artois, Phill Loveless gave a great performance in leading this production.  He acted as a conduit between the audience and the cast at times and had a very good character.

Amanda Matthews was Yvette Carte-Blanche.  She gave a brilliant performance as the French waitress.  Great accent, which didn’t falter. Very impressive.

Andy Bradshaw and Peter Knowles were the British airman: Fairfax and Carstairs.  They were a great duo and had some very funny moments.

As iconic characters Michelle Dubois and Officer Crabtree, Nikki Wilson and Bob Tucker were a great double act.  They worked well both together and with the rest of the cast, and I must commend Bob on delivering some very difficult lines, which had the audience in fits of laughter.

Singing waitress Mimi Labonq was played by Lauren Farnham.  She had a nice, feisty character and a lovely singing voice. 

Emma Dennett gave an entertaining performance as Edith Artois.  The ‘bad singing’ scene was very funny.  She formed a good partnership with Phill Loveless and also with Peter Harding Roberts who did a good job as undertaker Monsieur Alphonse.

German soldiers Colonel Von Strohm (Andrew Moreton), Captain Geering (Matt Morgan), Lieutenant Gruber (Gray Hill) and General Von Klinkerhoffen (Ian Court) all had good characters and interplay whenever they were on stage.  Their pace of dialogue was impressive.

Madam Fanny La Fan was played by Linda Morgan-Groves.  She was amusing in all her scenes and did a good job.

Josh Ogle and Lauren Jenkins played Herr Flick and Private Helga.  They had a great dynamic to their relationship and both had very strong characters.  Their comic timing was excellent too;  well done both. 

Jim Lediard had the audience waiting for the iconic “It is I, LeClerc,” every time he entered the action and he always delivered.  A very funny and well-constructed character.

The script was well-written and very funny but this was only made possible by the strength of the cast.  Everyone should be proud of the performance they delivered to ensure the audience laughed all the way through. 

I was very impressed with the attention to detail and overall production value of this play.  You can tell a lot of work had gone into authenticity, and I, along with the rest of the audience, were appreciative of this.

It was a pleasure to see everyone at PODS.  I am always given a lovely welcome and enjoyed catching up with the front of house team and committee members whilst I was there.  Thank you, for a very entertaining evening.

The views in this report are solely of the author.

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