Business Affairs

Some of us in the audience were no doubt old enough to remember the TV series of the  Whitehall Farces, of course featuring the legendary Brian Rix. This play smacked of that era, with a couple of hapless wise guys with a failing business to sell, and an abundance of sexual innuendo, and indeed significant scanty costumes, proudly paraded to titillate the comedic taste buds of a previous generation. So a play written by the team who created 'Allo Allo' could be trusted to 'rise' to the challenge.

 To achieve the end product there needed to be one absolute rule, and to mimic a three word well known TV show, this boiled down to, 'casting, casting, casting !' Here we had two lead characters Stanley Bigley (Lee Johnson) and Norman Harris (Andy Lofthouse) who really provided a tour de force performance with Stanley, the ideas man, playing the straight role against the ever so slightly incompetent accountant and easily led Norman. This pair had impeccable comedy timing, so essential in a farce. They delivered a really strong opening sequence with quick fire repartee to outline the predicament which was about to unfold! 

 They were matched, but in a contrasting way, by the seemingly more business like German Kurt Hoffman  (Tony Wilds), and the laid back 'Iron Man' Swede Sven Uberg (Gary Davison), who mistook the British lad's wives as escort girls, booked for a 'good time', as was their usual contract 'bonus'! The aforementioned wives Hilda 'Hidegarde' Bigley (Philippa Baille) and Rose Harris (Val Lofthouse) were terrific as they transformed from devoted, if a trifle naive, housewives with a nicely hidden libido, to succumb to the 'charms' of the roguish desires of the foreign businessmen. Their simmering temptation was left nicely under cooked... or was it? 

 Enter Sabrina (Debbie Clarke) and Valerie (Lauren Baston). two professional escort girls, who were clearly having far too much fun at the expense of Stanley and Norman, who were also tempted to 'go for it'! The girls all showed great confidence as they were caught in some stunning lingerie, including the 'dull' housewives, who relished the opportunity to join in the shenanigans (good word!) suggested and hinted at ! Perhaps the final solution  was inevitable, as the deal was struck rather too easily, but with a surprise sting in the tail, and a wistful comment from Hilda, that their retirement plans would have to settle for Bournemouth rather than Marbella! Needed a bigger finish! (other holiday resorts are available!).

 This cast provided us with some rib tickling, almost embarrassing, moments of old fashioned mirth, risque jokes and above all a good laugh, which we may never see again on our televisions. But for most of us nostalgia kicked in, and we enjoyed a delicious romp of confusion and plans going wrong! The cue bite was spot on with great timing to emphasize the comedy throughout. The basic box set was solid and worked well with entrances and exits well executed, essential in a farce! The play deserved a bigger audience but showed that Dereham can also excel with plays as well as pantomimes and musicals. A really fun evening, even if some younger members of the audience just may have wondered what their parents or grand parents used to watch on TV ! Great stuff!

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