Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em is a play written by Guy Unsworth, closely based on the 1970s television series of the same name, written originally by Ray Allen. It was the vehicle that made Michael Crawford a household name. The play is a loose amalgam of several plot lines from the original series and has only recently been released for production by amateur companies. Indeed, SADOS are the first amateur group to obtain the licence and purchased several of the specialised props from the recent professional production.

I was welcomed warmly to the theatre by the director Andrew Rudd, and the producer Kay Wood, and I was pleased to meet some non-performing older members at the interval; and to have a cordial talk with the cast afterwards and listen to their experience of the production.

The programme is comprehensive and colourful and will be entered into the Regional Competition.

            The play itself requires tremendous energy from the cast, particularly the person playing Frank Spencer, and is full of pyrotechnics, bangs, flashes, wallops, and stunts. I have to say that the backstage crew were amazing coping with it all.

The set is a complicated affair with a working (or not) front door, a cupboard, stairs to an upstairs landing, and a kitchen separated from a living room by a flat with a working hatch in it. The kitchen must have a working sink with running water as well as a convincing stove where Frank can burn the dinner. It obviously required great attention in its construction.

Many of the props, as I have mentioned, were obtained directly from the recent professional production and were of a high standard. Costumes were similarly appropriate, and I particularly liked Franks Y-fronts as well as his dress suit.

Lighting was good though some of the blackouts seemed quite long when sitting in the audience. I guess they were necessary for production purposes. The pyrotechnics were excellent, and the many and varied sound effects were really good and always completely on cue – not always the easiest task so well done to Jack Lee, Hannah Hards, and Alan Jackson in the sound and lighting department.

Production values were high, with consistency throughout. Charlie Russell as Frank Spencer was amazing. The part requires so much energy – he is on stage from start to finish, and he never stops fretting, agitating, rushing, falling over and generally being slapstick from beginning to end. Well done Charlie – a tour de force!

Jessica Forbes played the sympathetic, rather simple wife Betty very well – I have seen Jessica evolve from a teenage chorus member to a good leading lady, and it is great to see.

Jane Moss played Betty’s ascerbic mother who cannot believe her daughter has married such a bumbling idiot as Frank, and takes refuge in home-made prune wine. She also has perhaps the most difficult tongue twister ever devised to recite- amazing!!

It was good to see Geran Jackson do so well in his first principal role as Father O’Hara- and with a consistent Irish accent from start to finish. A good characterisation and I particularly enjoyed his choking episode.

Paul Coleman played two very good roles as Barbara’s boyfriend, David Worthington, and the TV producer Terry Luscombe- a surprise when he whipped his wig off at the end!

Lauren Lee played a TV cameraman and a policewoman to make up the last member of a competent cast.

So a good production from a revived SADOS with a new young committee in charge apparently, which bodes well for their future.

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