Funny Money

Marcus Newman has to be congratulated for directing a brilliant and very  hilarious production with an excellent cast.

Playwright Ray Cooney is known for fast-moving farces and this production never stopped. The lines were delivered at a cracking pace with double  entendres, endless exits and entrances with split-second timing, briefcases exchanging hands many times and all this  made it a first-class production .

Henry Perkins picked up the wrong briefcase on the way home from the office, which, to his surprise, contained nearly a million pounds. Instead of taking the briefcase to the police he keeps it and starts planning how to spend the money with consequences he doesn't expect.  Henry was played brilliantly by Phil Gascoyne who had to deal with copious amounts of dialogue and  constantly changing the plot to suit whoever he was having a conversation with.

Jean Perkins, who is expecting friends for dinner  instead two policemen and a taxi driver arrives whose lives would never be the same again.

Jean gets herself drawn into the confusing plots adding her own version as and when needed. This drives Jean to staring drinking and she ends up with a nervous  breakdown.  Edwina  Gascoyne's comedy timing, facial expressions and  characterisation was marvellous.  Great performance.

Bill Darwin, taking on the roles as Davenport - one of the policemen who isn't too bothered about taking a bribe or two - was performed with style and ease.

Andrea Howard also gave a great performance as the slightly dotty and fun-loving Betty Johnson. Her husband Vic, was never sure who or where he was and this role was played to perfection by John Fereday.

The other policeman, Slater appeared to be the only sane person in the mix and this was played perfectly by David Roberts.

Peter Crown gave a splendid performance as Bill (or was it Ben) the very confused taxi driver.  Peter had so many quick entrances and exits it was a wonder he knew if he was coming or going.

Anthony Maycock was good as "Mr Brerfcurse", the gangster who wants the case full of money to pay for the drugs. He starts firing the gun around the room - plates fall off the dresser, the clock "cuckoos"  like mad.  To save the day the ladies dis-arm the gangster.

This was a first-rate performance and everyone involved has to be congratulated.

Thank you for the hospitality and a great evening which gave  the audience so much to laugh at from the moment the curtain was opened to the end of the play.  Brilliant.

 

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