‘Allo ‘Allo - The Camembert Capers

The original ‘Allo ‘Allo TV show is well known. This production was a follow -on, a French café hiding 2 British airmen. A comedy including the Resistance, German officers, waitresses flirting with Rene. A majority of the characters were a continuation of the first ‘Allo ‘Allo. Lots of phrases familiar such as  – “I will say this only once”. This time there was no “hiding the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies” but this time almost juggling with the Camembert cheeses. 

We were greeted as usual by cast spilling into the audience and sitting in Rene’s café. There were 2 tables full of customers linking audience and performers. That helped to contribute during scene changes when Yvette Carte-Blanche (Caroline Hinton) and Mimi Labonq (Elin Roberts) interacted with them keeping the action going. Girls flirted well throughout, especially with Rene, and any chances with Monsieur Alphonse. There were several very busy scene changes from café to Colonel’s HQ, Fanny’s bedroom, the funeral parlour (which involved a proper coffin) and Herr Flick’s dungeon, which certainly contributed to the action but did add time to the play. 

Looking around the audience there was a plethora of berets, all adding to the atmosphere. Herr Flick (John Roberts) and Private Helga (Kate Dunn) established the nature of the Gestapo as we took our seats. 

If you wanted a laugh on your visit to Criccieth this was certainly the place to come to, as with a farce timing is of the essence, and interactions along with planned mistakes all add to the fun of the comedy and the audience were in there straight away. 

Costumes were quite French appearing, the Can Can girls costumes, I think, were found in the Players costume department and appropriately awful. Helga was very brave to wear her red basque to seduce General Von Klinkerhoffen. Herr Flick had a malfunction with his mic and managed very well, adding to the comedy. Herr Flick and Helga worked well together, perhaps because Helga said “take me Herr Flick, I am in the flood of my youth” – Kate’s favourite line. 

The airmen wore obvious changes of costume, including as standard lamps in Madam Fanny La Fan’s bedroom. I wonder if Christopher Topham and David Cassells (airmen), who were new to the society, knew what they were in for, costumes included a panto horse. I am sure they will return to be part of the forthcoming panto. Lots of use was made of the bed, enabling cast to appear through a window. Julie Roberts enjoyed the bed in her part as Madam Fanny La Fan, the mother of Edith Artois (Elizabeth Shaw). I am sure it was difficult for Edith to sing out of tune when required. She was a strong character within the story. 

Monsieur LeClerc (Joshua Wilde) also had several very obvious disguises and gave a good performance. Michelle Dubois (Karen Dolan-Smith) “I will say this only once” as part of the French Resistance. Lots of comedy in her character. 

I loved the comedy of General Von Klinkerhoffen (Neah Muir-Williams), it was excellent. The use of a tiny person playing a loud General worked well. A great character to play, it was done well throughout along with the half striptease!! 

Officer Crabtree (Luke Williams) jumbled his words as competently required. Well done – have you reverted to Welsh/English now? Monsieur Alphonse (Dave Roberts) was a money-maker and could even play the spoons on the coffin!  I must congratulate the Ensemble, always in sight and moving around, but no words and didn’t upstage the action. Well done.  

The three German Officers Colonel Von Strohm (Dan May), Captain Geering (Paul Stevenson) and Lieutenant Gruber (Chris Hinton) were easily hoodwinked. All uniforms a little large but seemed quite authentic. They made their presence felt when they visited the café. 

Rene (Paul Dunn) was a huge part, full of words and ad libs when necessary and competently keeping the plot moving along. 

Due to the long summer run of the show Paula Carr played Private Helga and Leisha Keane played Madam Fanny La Fan on alternate weeks.

French and German accents were rarely noticeable but the French music compensated for that, both during the opening of the show and scene changes. 

As the performance progressed the comedy element grew to a lively night out. 

Well done everyone!

The views in this report are solely of the author.

 

 

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