The Pink Panther Strikes Again

The basic plot of the play is Chief Inspector Dreyfus is about to be released from the insane asylum and years of therapy but loses his sanity again when he is visited by Chief Inspector Clouseau. He escapes the asylum and ends up kidnapping the creator of the doomsday machine. Wanting to kill Jacques Clouseau, Dreyfus does everything in his power to do so even with the help of numerous people in the bar Clouseau always seemed one step ahead and evaded all attempts on his life. A love story developed between Inspector Clouseau and Russian assassin Olga Berriosiva that finds her struggling between her duty and her love for him.

Inspector Clouseau played by Phil Hewitson had the audience in fits of laughter, there is a lot of dialogue in the role and Phil executed it so well. My favourite with his French accent was the massaged he asked for when really it should have been a message but there were lots of different scenarios like this through out the play.

Paul Dreyfuss, played by Robbie Lytollis, did an amazing job in this role changing his mood swings in an instance from happy to be frustrated to sad then madness. You could not tell this was Robbie’s debut with the group, so well done.

Where do I start with the wonderful Olga Berriosova played by Verity Ramsden? From the moment she came on stage she grabbed everybody’s attention with her Russian accent and her comedy timing was very good. The assassin trying to kill Clouseau but ends up falling in love with him was just what the audience wanted, and this partnership worked ever so well.

The full cast were so good especially as they were all playing numerous parts, but this worked so well as there was never a dull moment in the show.

I really enjoyed the pink panthers doing the scene changes as this seemed to keep the play going rather than the usual stop start, we sometimes get, in particular when changing scenes the movement and little dances they done kept the audience entertained.

The show was well directed by Mitch Ralley and Kate Sparkes-McSevich, you could tell how much hard work had gone into this show with a lot of detail and sometimes directors do not get the credit they deserve but the two of you must be so proud of what you put on stage it was a wonderful play. I know you had a lot to do with the Set Design along with Janice Nixon, but may I say how good the set looked.

Lighting and sound were up to the usual high standard so well done.

The show got off to a great start when Rebeccah Morrison played the theme tune to the pink panther on the saxophone, along with the spotlights I had a feeling we were in for a great show and that is exactly what we got.

Well done to everyone involved. You all worked so hard.

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