Up Pompeii

Those of us old enough to remember TV in the 70’s will recall the show on which this is based and will recall Frankie Howard in the lead role ooohing and arghing his way around the set with what at the time appeared to be an ad libbed show which was a vehicle for his character Lurcio to deliver many double entendre lines. The show is based on a farce/carry on style of delivery.

I’m sure many lines were kept in when people laughed in rehearsal and that every night the show got longer and changed with extra lines added. This works well for some actors and less well for others who like the safety of the script. It can be very difficult to know where your line is if the cue line changes every night.

The set was stunning with working water and Mount Vesuvius which rumbled regularly and eventually erupted. The balconies into both bedroom and bathroom worked well. The costumes were much like the TV show- showing plenty of bare skin- and that was just the fellas! The props worked well and looked in keeping.

Brian Ganderton, the Director had to step in to play Ludicrus and although he had his script close by he coped well with engaging with the audience and other cast members.

Steve Maxwell played Lurcio with much ad libbing and frivolity. He didn’t try to be Frankie Howard but had some of the mannerisms off pat.

Jill Radcliffe and Abey Bradbury played Ammonia and Erotica respectively, the wife and daughter of Ludicrus. Both of them did well to deliver their performances whilst others cracked up around them. Nice performances ladies.

Jenny Savill and Kerry Newton delivered lovely performances whilst looking stunning and Jenny Godfrey as Senna had the difficult job of warming up the audience with a rhyming monologue but used the catchphrase “ney, ney and thrice ney” to great effect.

Paul Bradbury and Sean McGowan worked well together as the Captain and his sidekick and Andy Gibson as Corneous partnered Lurcio in drag with great aplomb. To complete the cast Robert Brownsell played Ahern- Nausius the young naive son of Ludicrus with a lovely air of ridiculousness.

The cast did well with a script which is very much of its time and clearly was a vehicle in its day to promote the star Frankie Howard. Many members of the audience clearly were very fond of this show feeding lines they remembered to the cast and laughing heartily.

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