Fur Coat and no Knickers

What a great entertaining evening of comedy CADOS gave us with their excellent production of the Lancashire comedy “Fur Coat and No Knickers “set in the1970s and written by The Rochdale Cowboy, Mike Harding. Directed by Kath Ashworth there was excellent teamwork and very good comedy performances all round from all the actors in this play. To set the scene and the background for the story each character introduced themselves to the audience using pre-recorded information which gave the impression you were listening to the character’s thoughts which was very effective and very humorous. The plot revolved around the wedding of Deirdre Ollerenshawe (Zoe Hale) and Mark Greenhalgh (Robert Walsh). Deirdre is from a strict Catholic working class family, her father Harry (Steve Unsworth) believes Hitler had the right idea about everything while Mark’s dad (Matt Clark) is a self-made man, who owns a car sale room as well as other businesses, and is a member of the Masons. Deirdre’s mother Edith (Karen Miller) knew Marks mother Muriel (Kim Brookfield) before she was married and knows what she got up to at that time of her life because they lived in the same neighbourhood and she thinks Muriel is all fur coat and no knickers’ hence the title of the play.  The Bridegroom Mark, the best man, Hamish (Chris Franic), go on a hilariously funny pub crawl to celebrate the Stag Night along with Deidre’s father Harry and brothers, Kevin (Sean Roberts), and Peter (Alan Levesley) they are joined on their eventful journey by Nip (George Albert) played outstandingly by Bob Hopkinson who gave a show steeling comedy performance and the drunken priest Father Molloy wonderfully portrayed by Ken Brindley. After visiting several pubs and clubs they get thrown out of a nightclub and the groom Mark and Father Malloy eventually end up chained to some railings in the street along with a blow-up doll and both get arrested by the Police. Next day at the wedding and reception, there are some very embarrassing revelations which causes comical disorder and then to top it all general pandemonium ensues when Father Molloy staggers into the room dressed in his long johns carrying the same blow-up doll from the Stag night.  This play has quite a large cast and the above principle actors were very well supported by those in the smaller roles and also those in non-speaking roles.

Comic timing was spot on which is essential and the pace was fast and just right for this type of production.  Generally, diction and clarity of words was respectable but just a constructive comment on a few occasions it was difficult to hear some of the dialogue as one or two of the actors needed to project more but this did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this superb comedy.

The set was multi-functional and well throughout, well done to the technical crew, the back stage crew and set builders who did an excellent job. Costumes were very good and were spot on for the era as is usual for CADOS.  Well done to Director, Kath Ashworth, and Producer Karen Thompson for an outstanding comedy production Thank you for inviting us we had a great evening. Hope to see you for your next production.

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