Up Pompeii

This was my very first visit to the town Stone therefore my first visit to Stone Revellers Musical Theatre. There was a warm welcome from some members of the committee as well as the front of house team.

Very often we are asked about a drink at the interval. However, this was the first time I have been asked whether I want fish ‘n’ chips! These were greatly enjoyed by the audience during the interval while the hard-working front of house staff delivered drink orders to people at their table.

Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Up Pompeii was of course a hugely popular TV comedy broadcast between 1969 and 1970. Like other comedies there are less episodes that we may think – a grand total of 13.  The series centred around the head slave, Lurcio played by Frankie Howerd.

The stage appeared well constructed. Three doors upstage, down stage a ‘stone’ bench, a step to a lower level. An image painted to the wall (more about this later) of the master (Ludicrus Sextus) and mistress of the house (Ammonia). A well down stage right and gates both stage left and right.

Matt Wright as Lurcio was unquestionably the bedrock of the play, with many of the mannerisms of Howerd. With plenty of ‘please yourself’ and talking aside to the audience as well as referring to the director and technical team, such as sound engineers, as ‘Stage Hands’ throughout. For example, miscued eruptions of Vesuvius and a ‘splash’ when dropping a key down the well. These were all very well delivered and believable. The character is continually attempting to do ‘The Prologue’ but never manages due to the interruptions as the play builds.

Ludicrus Sextus (played by Adam Fray) a senator, informs his wife Ammonia (played by Charl Andrews) he needs to travel to Rome to present his anti-vice bill on moral standards announcing he is ‘not having any of it’ (just the start of the double entendre we were in for!). He convinces Ammonia to go and visit her mother at Tedius in the countryside and take their daughter, Erotica (played by Hannah Adams). Erotica is enquiring how to spell words such as ‘fancy’, ‘desire’ and ‘bonking’ while ‘slating’ a friend.  Adam played the part with suitable conviction of having to do his duty as a senator (he has no intention of going to Rome at all!) while Charl plays on the double meaning well throughout the opening scenes. Hannah is wonderful in her sense of wanting fun.

Captain Treacherous played with what seemed great delight by Dan Tobias Lewis- Dayle threatens people with a journey on his slave ship described as a ‘Mediterranean cruise with no sun.’ His not so bright sidekick, Kretinus was played by Matt Giles with great fun.

Speaking of sidekicks there was Corneous, played by Rob Stanway. This time the side kick to Lurcio. Rob played the part extracting the humour of a ‘footman’ while also after Lurcio’s job (yes wanting to be head slave!).

Senna the Soothsayer (PC warning) politely referred to as ‘the old bag’ was full of woe woe and thrice woe played by Nichola Abbott who seemed to relish in the role.

Cara Fraser was wonderful as Suspenda (the well-known nymphomaniac and beauty), the real reason for sending Ammonia away to the country.

Nausius the innocent son of Ludicrus and Ammonia was played by a very smiley Joe Jenkinson. Nausius was an absolute joy in his naivety.

Voluptua a slave girl was played to the most by Claire Saunders who was so grateful to her rescuer she seemed to want to pay them back and not necessarily by looking at Nausius’s butterfly collection!  

Chaos of course reins throughout with some wonderful lines. I must admit my favourite was probably at the end of act one delivered by Lurcio when Ludicrus is actively involved with Suspender ‘He can’t believe his luck! All he’s ever done are Agatha Christies.’  Chaos at the end has of course the pairings all together of Nausius and Voluptua, Corneous and Erotica and Ludicrus and Suspenda. All calling on Lurcio for his help.

I am sure there was the odd deviation from the scripted version of the play but these were well covered and rescued by the cast and always remaining in character during this true romp.

The audience loved this one and why not. The laughter was not just a ‘Titter’ but full laugh out loud. This was a truly funny show brining out the best of the comedy of the day.

I most certainly look forward to seeing Stone Revellers again in the future.

Next on the programme is the wonderfully scripted play by Agatha Christie ‘And Then There Were None’ in September 2024.

Congratulations to all involved whether on stage, back stage or on the production team.

Andy Brown

West Midlands Regional Councillor

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.