The Ladykillers

 

CARLISLE GREEN ROOM CLUB

THE LADYKILLERS

 

This was an excellent production from the Green Room. The play based on the famous Ealing Comedy of the same name, and written by Father Ted writer Graham Linehan.

The play is set in the house of Mrs Wilberforce, who rents rooms for rehearsal to a would be string quartet, but who are, in fact a gang of villains planning a security heist. The gang are led by Professor Marcus, very well played by Stewart Grant, who actually rents the rooms, and conceives the heist. His gang consists of, shady characters, Major Courtney, played by Michael Cox, Teddy Boy, ‘Arry, convincingly played by Jason Munn, would be assassin, Louis Harvey, complete with flick knife, played by Alice Woodsworth, and by no means least, One Round Lawson, not the brightest spark in the box, played superbly by Jonathan Millican, playing, his first major role with the company. They all played their part in very funny situations, leading up to, and after the successful heist. Well done to the whole team.

Prior to the heist the audience were treated to a concert, organised by Mrs Wilberforce, for her friends, in which the string quartet, come robbers performed abysmally, there is more tune in a slack caulker, as the miners used to say, on their way to the pits wearing their clogs.

After the successful heist, the gang need to get rid of the loot, carried back to her home by the then unsuspecting Mrs Wilberforce, but she quickly catches on to their plan, which leaves the gang with no choice but to kill the landlady. Various plans are discussed , each one unsuccessful, but ending up with one of the gang dying instead, until Mrs Wilberforce is left all alone with the loot, and is told she can keep it by her very friendly policeman, Constable McDonald, also well played by Connor Skivington. Mrs Wilberforce thinks all her birthdays have come at once, and this makes a perfect end to a very funny and very well performed ‘black comedy.

The set was excellent, costumes were well in 1950’s period.Sound and lighting were very good, all in all an excellent evenings entertainment. Thankyou Green Room for your invitation, and hospitality.

Ed McGee ( NODA NW10 Rep)

  29/6/18

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.