The King's Peach

The first thing to mention is the script from the director Ralph Wiggins, which, as usual, is very different; an invitation to the 100th birthday of William V accompanied by Queen Kate in those ‘look-alike’ hats. When the script is tailor-made for the company, every last ounce of talent and expertise can be exploited to bring out an excellent and enjoyable show, well deserving the sell-out run. Music, as expected, very toe-tapping with the group, and chosen with care (and not always what might be expected, although old-timers in the audience can anticipate/wonder/hope at the choice!). A proper ‘company’ show with all delivering with great energy and volume and twinkling toes.
 Once again excellent sets (from a technical winner) and very appropriate and so beautifully painted. Loved the space pod appearance, would be good to reach Australia in minutes. Costumes clever and well chosen, liked the black and white for 2082, and the royalty costumes just perfect.
 The casting exemplary as the script written with people in mind: the villainous Jester Columbine (Jennie Blowers) just had to be mercurial and a dancer (to join in the famous full assembly tap routines from Blakeney) and link the story scenario. Such cleverly worked characters in the Palace and Government and some of the dialogue unfortunately rather predictive of the future and cleverly witty, and delivered in style. Iain Mawson as Sir Humphrey needs to take a new ‘day-job’, so good the style; Martyn Scott a splendid military figure as Rupert de Coverley and very strong singing. And the dastardly and plotting Chancellor Boris Osbourne from Dave Buckey even got booed which says it all. The playboy George of Wales (Dave Long) was an unhappy recipient of the plot to steal the King’s Peach decoration made with gold from Mars, hapless to resolve his problems until the ending, we waited a long time in the story for the anticipated ‘white sports-coat and pink carnation! And to the royals: Queen Kate by Alison Mawson was a perfect interpretation royalty organising her spouse, the dialogue and singing strong, and definitely looked the part. Steve Benson looked superb in his uniform and decorations, commanding the stage with his awaited strong singing of ‘If I ruled the world’ and ‘Blue Blood’, and sharing ‘An English country garden’.
 Some funny and clever touches in many of the supporting roles (in fact all had a part as well as being the lively and a well motivated company of singers and dancers). Jess Tutt as the Android who really was not used for brain-power, the two reporters not for newspapers but for Tablet and Pad, and that fantastic sequence in the Law Courts (now run by Disney) with the cross of Strictly and Bake Off as the competition: Tina Brunioli (Marjorie Davies), Michelle Roux VI (Sam Duncan) and Gregg Rebel-Hardwood (John Ratcliffe) just excelled. And who would expect a 3D printer to re-create Hercule Poirot (Chris Hoxley) to solve the mystery assisted by Shirley (Jenny Lincoln)? And so many other character roles in the story!
 The evening was a romp of fun and energy and pure enjoyment for all on stage and in the audience: a true ‘company show’ which well deserved the rapturous applause and laughter and toe-tapping appreciation. And the finale ‘Let’s all fly a kite’ was a joyous affair with all infected with such a ‘feel-good’ moment that none wanted the evening to finish, no wonder there is always a waiting list for tickets to Blakeney as it is such a pleasurable outing.

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