No Sex Please We're British

Tyldesley Little Theatre open the season with the farce No Sex Please We’re British written by Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott. One of the longest running comedies in the West End from 1971 to 1987.

With striking colours the setting is a flat above a bank with the many customary doors for a farce.  Blue, mustard and a hint of green is the wallpaper and painted walls. On the back wall there is a disappearing staircase stage right and stage left door to into the hall various intercoms are on the wall. Stage left two doors leading to main bedroom and study with small round table down stage with trim phone on the table and waste basket on the floor. Stage right at the back is small kitchen with door and hatch (with hatch door that has a life of its own) you can see right through and the action that happens in there. Also right are two doors one to the spare bedroom and one to the bathroom. Settee and rocking chair are centre stage with coffee table and small table at the side of the settee. This set us up for the period. Set Construction Eddie Stanley, Andy Haymes, Peter Hood and Harry King. Set Decoration -Alex Hymes, Alex Sangster, Connor Parkinson, Nicholas Worthington, Rebecca Southern, Sally Mason, Jake Little, Ian Hunter, Mirenda Mason, Paul Hilton and Pete Hood. Props all appropriate and video tape help dating it and also the use of a fire in the wastepaper basket effectively done. Props Alex Haymes, Connor Parkinson, Alex Sangster, Paul Whur and Margaret Speakes. Costume looked good hair and make-up, although I would have maybe kept the Inspector’s hat on as not to reveal the 21st century hairstyle.  Wardrobe by Margaret Speakes, Danny Tooby and Cast Members. Lighting unobtrusive as should be design and operation Pete Gower, Jenny Ackerley, Harry King and Jenny Whur. Sound involving phones, buzzers and music was Paul Whur. This all helped the audience buy into the feel of the 1970’s.

Connor Parkinson directs and certainly brings out the comedy in the farce with full use of doors, half-dressed characters and confusion in abundance.

The cast of ten were Delivery Man played by Alex Sangster, Vernon Paul played by Paul Hilton, Susan played by Helen McCarrick and Barbara was played by Lauren Allister.( How to make an impact without speaking Lauren) Ian Hunter played Arnold Needham who gets more than he bargained for with sex, drugs and rock and roll. Alex Clarke played the boss Leslie Bromhead who has his eyes on Peter’s mum. He is outed and looked suitably bashful when found out about his sexual goings on.

Playing Peters mum was Rebecca Southern as Eleanor Hunter the ‘vegetarian’ who likes the occasional roast duck. Eleanor clearly younger than the part, found her character with her delivery, stance and style - she came across well as the annoying mother-in-law. The bunch of flowers gag was great and good reaction. Her son Peter Hunter was played by Nicholas Worthington as newly married and wanting to make a good impression – well, it all goes to pot and his frustrations were well played out in farce style. I felt Nicholas took time to warm up at the beginning but soon got into his stride.

Nicholas worked well with Alex Haymes playing his wife Frances Hunter who inadvertently sets off a catalogue of events leading to buffoonery and ludicrous improbable situations. Alex had great facial expressions and especially when talking about her mother-in-law or behind her back. I really liked the manic rocking in the rocking chair. Alex also had great physicality to her character too - well done!

 Last but not least was Danny Tooby playing Brian Runnicles - the success of his performance was he brought the comedic balance to the production and this was expertly done. Danny ramped it up on each entrance and never once over doing it as one can he brought the element of surprise – we were never quite sure in his panic what he was going to do next. I loved the moment he put his arm up and hid behind his coat - just hilarious! His energy was clear to see and his confusion as to what he is involved in as well as athletic dive through the hatch. Enjoyable to watch and excellent work.

The cast must be exhausted but delighted with this production to start the season off

Thank you for the invite and hospitality from Matthew and I.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District Rep 5

‘Theatre allows us to escape reality’.

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