The Ladykillers
Information
- Date
- 30th October 2019
- Society
- Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society
- Venue
- Ringwood School Theatre
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Lucie Evans
The Ladykillers, the stage play by Graham Linehan, is based on the Ealing Comedies motion picture screenplay by William Rose. Director Lucie Evans has a great cast to work with. The set is excellent; the main stage is split into two: one half is the living area of the house with a few steps leading ‘upstairs’ to the bedroom with a window with a ledge. There is a front door and the cast use the walkways to the front of the stage to go into the house as they enter the stage. Lighting and sound effects are also good and it becomes evident that the window overlooks Kings Cross mainline.
Malcolm Hawker plays Professor Marcus the leader of the crooks; he takes a room in the house so he and his gang can plan a robbery. He plays the charming man who has a answer for everything and there are some great moments of comedy between his gang and Sally Whyte, playing the unsuspecting Mrs Wilberforce who owns the house he is lodging in. Sally has a lovely way about her and plays her, just right as the ever helpful lady only too happy to keep the gang in cups of tea and helping unknowingly the gang take the money. They meet at her house as musicians and the Professor plays a record while they plan the Robbery.
Peter Ansell plays Major Courtney who is nervous and confused at times but keeps remembering his wartime moments with some great lines; John West plays Harry Robinson who takes tablets to help him keep calm. Tim McConnell plays Louis Harvey who is foreign and a killer who hates little old ladies, and Rich Bennett plays One Round as the nice but dim gentle giant who you wouldn’t want to mess with. Andrew Chappell takes on the role of the local Constable MacDonald. All of the cast work very well together to get the story across with good comic timing and great character work. I loved the cupboard scene. Ladies of the society have small cameos as friends coming to listen to the Musicians play; this was also a funny scene.
Act two leads to all kinds of trouble. Well done everyone.
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