Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus is a play written by Alan Bennett that explores the eccentricities of the British middle classes and centres around a dysfunctional family, The Wicksteeds from Hove.

The action is based in the Wicksteeds home and focuses on their individual desires to seize any sexual opportunity. The set was minimal which meant the audiences focus was purely on the actors, their interactions and the delivery of their words.

Mrs Swabb (played by Carol Melhuish) was lovely in her role as the all knowing and all-seeing housekeeper. She provided the dry humour to many of the situations and there was a great truth in her performance. John Bishop was a great as Canon Throbbing, a character that regularly shared with the audience his tortured and repressed soul. His desire to leave his celibate state would often leaving him high and dry through out the play, much to the audiences amusement.

Simon Phillips as Dr Arthur Wicksteed took the lead role, taking on the huge task of learning the long monologues and was supported by Muriel Wicksteed (his stage wife) played by Lauraine Howles.

Arthurs journey sees his desires not for his wife but for Felicity Rumpers played by the perfectly cast Heather Foster.  Her manipulation of Dennis Wickstead (Arthurs Son) played by George Price was lovely to witness.

Amanda Nicolle played Connie Wicksteed (Arthurs daughter) whose desire to improve her bust adds much fun to the proceedings.

Kay Bishop played Lady Rumpers, a force to be reckoned with, Andy Reed played Sir Percy Shorter, Dave Whyte played Mr Shanks whilst Lynne James played the suicidal Mr Purdue.

I did find the pace in the production slower than I had expected, with a few too many prompts and not enough facial expressions to really get the full humour across the footlights. This was a brave departure from previous productions but the freaky farce complete with fake breasts, dropped trousers, mistaken identities, all with the strong family motto of ‘He whose lust lasts, last longest’ was fun along the way.

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