'Allo'Allo 2 - The Camembert Caper

Culter Theatre Club invited us once again to Cafe Rene in the French village of Nouvion during the German occupation in 1942 for an evening of cheesy fun and innuendo. The villagers, with the aid of members of the Resistance, are trying to outwit their German occupiers to recover 50,000 francs hidden in a Camembert cheese and to repatriate two British airmen employing every devious means they can including a cabaret featuring Madame Edith’s singing and a hilarious can-can dance performed by the airmen, resistance and cafe staff. Stuart McMain gave a tour-de-force performance as Cafe owner Rene Artois as he led us through the events. His excellent comic timing and delivery in his faux French accent were a delight. Hilary Esson as his long suffering wife Edith gave an excellent comic performance and her off-key singing – difficult for a true singer to do – had the audience in hoots of laughter even as they covered their ears! Carla Barber and Paula Milne, as sexy waitresses Yvette Cart-Blanche and Mimi Labonq respectively, were extremely convincing in their pursuit of Rene’s affections. Stephanie Wild made a commanding Michelle Dubois, leader of the local Resistance group, as she delivered the character’s well known catch phrase “I shall say this only once”. John Drysdale was a towering Officer Crabtree, handling the character’s trademark pidgin French faultlessly. Kerwin Robertson as the hapless German commander Colonel Von Strohm gave a strong performance as did Erik Esson as a youthful and energetic General Von Klinkerhoffen. Grahame Whyte made a delightfully camp Lt. Hubert Gruber and his unsuccessful attempts to win Rene’s affections were hilarious. Colin Jones was suitably imperious as the leather-coated Herr Flick as he tried to uncover the whereabouts of the British airmen assisted by the beautiful, leggy Pte. Helga Geerhart. Strong support was given by Richard Stables (Monsieur Alphonse/ Flight Lt. Fairfax), Graeme Mackay(Monsieur LeClerc), Ashley Mildon (elderly Madame Fanny La Fan), Andrew Brebner (Capt. Hans Geering), Simon Winstanley (Flight L. Carstairs) and Lindsey Masson (The Piano Player). The cleverly designed set ensured that the fourteen scene changes – from cafe to German headquarters to bedroom to Herr Flick’s sadistic dungeon to funeral parlour and railway station – were carried out quickly and quietly in the compete blackouts by the efficient stage crew. A truly enjoyable evening with lots of laugh out loud moments thoroughly enjoyed by the full house audience – some of whom had got into the spirit by dressing up appropriately!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.