'Allo 'Allo 2: The Camembert Caper

Strange feeling of déjà vu as we stepped inside The Hut looking at the
familiar set from last year. What an amazing opportunity to use it again and
for a sequel. This must be quite a rare opportunity, but as the first Allo Allo
paid off so well for you, why wouldn’t you follow it up with another written
piece. I was quite excited to be at the first night, and I must say the audience
was buzzing and so looking forward to it. This is just what we needed in our
present times - a moment of pure escapism. Even writing the title at the top
of this review brought a smile to my face, I was ready for an evening of
bonkersness, and boy did we get it!
A special thank you to Liz and Stephen for always giving us the best
welcome and for the hot chocolate. X

This production of “Allo Allo 2” captured everything audiences love about the
original series. Quick fire humour, exaggerated characters, and a wonderfully
chaotic plot that somehow manages to stay just on the right side of total
disaster. From the opening scene, the cast threw themselves into the farce
with infectious enthusiasm, creating an evening full of laughter, surprises, and
delightfully silly moments.
There was certainly much more of a confidence with the characters this time
round. I felt everyone embraced the show’s larger than life personalities with
confidence and charm. Each actor leaned into the physical comedy, accents,
and exaggerated expressions that make Allo Allo such a distinctive style of
humour. The chemistry between characters were strong, and the cast
handled the rapid entrances, exits, and misunderstandings with impressive
precision. There were a few first night apprehensions and nerves but this
soon disappeared within the first few minutes of the play.
Rene’s exasperated desperation, and Edith’s dramatic flair, and the various
officers, waitresses, and resistance members all contributed to a lively,
comedic rhythm. This time round the actors clearly understood the tone of
the show, and played it with just the right amount of cheekiness.
I’m more than aware that a first night is the first chance you get to try the
gags out on an audience. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they need a bit
of tweaking. You sometimes get laughs where you don’t even realise you’dget one. But all that said mostly the humour landed consistently throughout

the performance. Classic running gags, mistaken identities, and over the top

scenes kept the audience laughing from scene to scene. This production
made great use of physical comedy slapstick moments, exaggerated
reactions, and perfectly timed pauses which all added to the fun.
What stood out most was the casts commitment. Farce only works when
everyone plays it with absolute seriousness, and this group did exactly that,
making the absurdity even funnier. I just know this would also get better night
after night.

The set design once again captured the charm of Café Renée with warmth
and detail. Doors, windows and hidden corners were used brilliantly to
support the fast-paced entrances and comedic chaos. I did however feel
some of the transitions could’ve run a little smoother and as already said, I’m
sure by second night this would’ve been ironed out and running at a fast lick.
The direction kept the pace brisk without ever feeling rushed. Farce is
notoriously tricky to stage, but this production struck a strong balance
between clarity and chaos. The comedic beats were well timed, the physical
humour was safely and effectively executed, and the story remained easy to
follow despite the whirlwind of activity.

Overall “Allo Allo 2” was a lively, entertaining performance that honoured the
spirit of the original, while giving the cast plenty of room to shine. With strong
character work, confident comedic timing, and a playful sense of fun, the
production delivered exactly what audiences came for. An evening of laughter
nostalgia and delightfully silly escapades. Just what we needed.
Rather than naming every individual this time round it is worth saying that the
entire cast obviously returned to rehearsals with their characters already fully
grounded from Allo Allo 1. This gave the entire company an immediate
confidence and cohesion, allowing you to step straight back into this play
with sharper instincts and well established dynamics. This really came
through to the audience, I felt a far more relaxed performance which felt real
and not forced. I really hope you all enjoyed it second time around, it certainly
came over that you did.

RENE (Warren)
This is a character who thrives on chaos, charm, and a healthy dose of panic.
Well done, I felt you elevated your character in this performance, capturing all
of it with great finesse and confidence. You navigated the farce with ease,
delivered punch lines with precision, and kept the audience laughing
throughout. A delightful polished performance.

EDITH
Yet again, you brought Edith to life. Having delivered excellence in Allo Allo 1.
I felt you truly surpassed yourself delivering a version of Edith that felt richer,
sharper and even more entertaining. Your timing was impeccable. Every
pause, every glance, every exaggerated flourish landed exactly where it
needed to. You created moments that were both hilarious and unexpectedly
endearing. The musical bits and the chaotic café scenes showed real mastery
of farce, and your energy lifted every ensemble moments you were a part of.

Michelle Dubois (Kerry)
A delightful performance from you taking on Michelle Dubois in Allo Allo 2.
You had big shoes to fill, yet you made the role your own with style. Those
early moments of nervousness only added to the charm of watching you
blossom on stage. Once you relaxed into the character, you commanded
every entrance with confidence and humour, fitting seamlessly into the lively
world of Renée‘s café. A truly enjoyable portrayal.

Madame Fanny LaFan (Gail)
Madame Fanny La fans arrival in Allo Allo 2 was one of the productions
highlights. Despite the character not appearing in the first instalment. You
stepped into the role with confidence and authenticity. Your casting was
spot-on and your natural ability, expressive delivery, and impeccable comedy
timing made you both memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. A superb
addition to the cast.

PROPS AND COSTUMES
As before this was pretty spot on, it all felt very authentic.

DIRECTOR (Stephen Fudge)
Well, you certainly delivered a confident, mature, and deeply heartfelt
continuation of the world you first brought to life in Allo Allo 1. Your earlier
success set a high bar, yet this new chapter met every expectation. You
continued with the sense of purpose and artistic clarity. What stands out
most is the feeling of a full circle moment. We can sense how personal this
project is for you and the storytelling carries the weight of experience, the
humour lands with sharp timing and we feel it’s the work of someone
returning to a project they love but now with skill and perspective to elevate
slightly further.

Your direction was confident, your vision cohesive and the result was a
production that honours the spirit of the original while expanding it in
meaningful ways. It was really nice to see a sequel that feels this complete.
This was joyful, and full of creative fulfilment. Very much looking forward to
your next venture.

Thank you all so much for entertaining your audiences with the last two very
funny plays.
I can’t wait to see you all again very soon.
Best wishes

Mike

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