Tons of Money

A bright, energetic performance of a classic 1920s farce by Will Evans and Valentine.  This report will make no sense without a short synopsis.  Aubrey invents inventions which produce no income.  His brother dies, leaving him a fortune but it will be swallowed up in debts.  Wife Louise comes up with a plan for Aubrey to fake his own death.  Aubrey’s cousin is next in line but he died in Mexico, so Aubrey will pretend to be George.  No debts, lots of money

The cast guides us through this mayhem with some style to which Bill Clegg, as Aubrey, adds numerous painful malapropisms and a little painful-looking physical comedy.  Liz Lake as wife, Louise is his humorous foil. They appear wealthy but, actually, are deep in debt.  Louise, a typical “rich” lady of the 20s, considers herself entitled!   Liz Lake plays her engagingly whilst Bill Clegg is a believable, long-suffering, husband capable of shaking off any pitfall, arising from their plans.

Benita Mullett (Aunt Ben) is deaf and eccentric; played amusingly by Rosemary Cook, she complements the other ladies in the cast, making her presence felt whenever she appears.  Ann Wardle, as Louise’s friend, Jean, gives an energetic, in-your-face performance.  Malcolm Lowerson as Sprules the butler and Brenda Parker as Simpson the maid  exhibited a good, amusing relationship.  A little tentative initially but growing into their characters as the action progresses.

David Kiely as Henry (sic), brother of Sprules and the second version of George (it seems he may not be dead) to materialise, gives an entertaining performance, making much of his supposed marriage to Jean, relishing some humorous moments.  The scene where Aubrey (the first version of George) goes upstairs with Jean and the ensuing hilarity was very amusing indeed.

The third, final, real version of George was Alan Littlechild, playing the part well. He could, perhaps, have been a bit more outraged, when discovering he would not inherit.  Tony Overton as Giles the gardener was a hoot, managing to get his interjections just right, creating some really amusing moments.  It seems a pity no-one sat on the fresh eggs he placed so lovingly on the settee!  The remaining cast member was T T Arvind as James Chesterman, the solicitor, who understandably seemed a little bemused throughout.

An enjoyable production, lots of laughs, well realised with pace and enthusiasm.  The prompt had a little work to do, on occasion, but this was the first night and, all in all, most entertaining.

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