Hi-de-Hi!

It was most appropriate for the audience at this production to be welcomed by “Hi-de-Hi!”, the catch phrase and title of this stage adaptation from the original television series by the very successful partnership of Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Perry had previously been employed as a ‘Red Coat’ at a Butlins holiday Camp and together the pair used this experience to develop a situation comedy which featured the activities of staff at Maplins, a fictitious camp. Such establishments were popular with British holidaymakers in the 1960’s prior to their being tempted abroad on package holidays that featured Mediterranean sunshine. Martin Tyrrell’s direction successfully recreated the characters and the working environment at such camps where the entertainment staff were either those who were endeavouring to establish their careers or had become ‘fading stars’. The costumes were perfect for this production and the divided set worked very well. There were particularly strong performances from Daran Bland (as Jeffrey Fairbrother, the Entertainments Manager) and Daisy Ivatt (as Peggy Ollerenshaw, the Chalet Maid who so desperately wanted to be a ‘Yellow Coat’). Collette Coleman (as Gladys Pugh, the Chief Yellow Coat, smitten with the Entertainments Manager) was outstanding in the use of her body language and conveyed innuendo very effectively, simply by using her eyes. Many people now choose more exotic destinations for their holidays but I’m sure this production did much to revive memories for many of the older members of the audience. Well done SADOS for accurately conveying the gentle humour that was prevalent in television comedies of this era.                                                                                               

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