IT TAKES a brave director and cast to tackle Michael Cooney’s farce, which includes triple entendres, plus elements of farce, slapstick and even large chunks of bawdy physical humour, in the style of the Carry On films! Layers of confusion are created upon encountering lies, talking at cross purposes, mistaken identities, cross-dressing, undressing, dead bodies, mis-timings, lots of alcohol and even an exploding washing machine ~ all competing with a tale of benefit fraud.

The cast coped well with a fiendishly constructed script, apart from one or two lapses of memory: understandable with such convoluted text! Once slow cueing and nerves dissipated, events unfolded at a frenetic pace. It was good to spot some new faces, but experience shone through, particularly in the case of central fraudster Eric Swann, played by David Churchley, and Bryan Tufnell as Norman Bassett, while Mike McDonald’s Benefits Inspector: Mr Jenkins was a tour de force, with his drunken rant being a particular high spot of the evening. Richard Lewis (Uncle George) obviously enjoyed every second of his physical comedy, as did the audience, while great support was given by Lorraine Millward as the long suffering wife, Sarah Generalski-Sparling as a bereavement counsellor and Eleanor Trapp’s scary Ms Cowper, who although most definitely used to being in charge, was not afraid to eventually drop her guard and enter into the spirit of the piece! Undertaker Mr Forbright was sympathetically portrayed by Martin Summers, with Jackie Ross suitably confused at the sudden demise of her Fiancé and then his equally abrupt reincarnation! Callum Bird seemed a little young to be cast as a Doctor, although he made a brave attempt at balancing the chaotic situation with a certain amount of gravitas. Props were excellent, while the set was realistic and well furnished, with a bright and cheerful lighting plot, but sound effects were loudly intrusive. Overall, a hugely enjoyable romp and fine example of farce! I commend those on stage and behind the scenes; all of whom I imagine needed a long lie down in a darkened room to recover from the rigours of such physical theatre

The Court Players' next production is “Blood Brothers” (play version) by Willy Russell and will be performed on 15-17 October. again at The Memorial Hall, Rangeworthy.

By Lyn Bedford