 by Brandon Thomas10th – 19th January 2008
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Jack Chesney, Lord Fancourt Babberley and Charley Wykeham are in high spirits.
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They also serve.... (Brasset, Jack's "man")
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Jack only has eyes for Kitty Verdun.
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Charley with the love of his life, Amy Spettigue.
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Fancourt Babberley in hiding as "Charley's Aunt"
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The long-suffering Brasset at work outside on the patio
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"Charley's Aunt" is not at all happy with Amy's father, Stephen Spettigue.
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Fancourt Babberley is taking advantage of being in disguise.
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Charley's real aunt from Brazil, Donna Lucia D'Alverdorez, with Ela Delahay.
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Jack's father, Colonel Sir Francis, is getting on well with Charley's "Aunt".
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The "Aunt" behaves outrageously and has even poured tea into Spettigue’s top hat!
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A relaxed moment for Spettigue, Ela, Donna Lucia and Sir Francis Chesney
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Spettigue entertaining the ladies in his drawing room.
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CHARLEY'S AUNT
The Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall
FOLLOW that ! The players have opened their 2008 programme with this classic Brandon Thomas comedy, set in Oxford over a century ago, and it's a hoot.
English humour at its finest can obviously stand the test of time, and a superb 10-strong cast deliver the goods in style as the story unfolds.
Students Charley Wykeham and Jack Chesney's plan to entertain their young ladies is put in jeopardy when the chaperone they need - Charley's rich aunt from Brazil - suddenly postpones her visit.
The young men solve the problem, they think, by persuading their pal, Lord Fancourt Babberley, to dress up and impersonate Donna Lucia D'Alverdorez, with hilarious results, and Ian Shirley gives a truly wonderful performance as the Lord who becomes a lady. Every expression perfectly fits the changing situations.
There are humorous scenes when old codgers Sir Francis Chesney (Robert Onions) and Stephen Spettigue (Gerald Joyce) take a fancy to the angular aunt - or her cash - and the fun moves into top gear with the unexpected arrival of the real Donna (Rosemary Manjunath).
Christopher Waters (Charley) and Gary Pritchard (Jack) impress, too, and if the upper class accents in the show occasionally slip, it's hardly noticeable, and Terence Atkinson adds to the fun as the blase butler, Brasset.
Stunning costumes and a neat set add to the enjoyment of a fine play, cleverly produced and directed by Peter and Elizabeth Smith. Its sell-out run ends on Saturday January 19.
VERDICT: * * * *
PAUL MARSTON
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