The Ladykillers:Killing it!

‘Father Ted’ writer Graham Linehan’s adaptation of the classic comedy 1955 film starring Alec Guiness and Peter Sellers has been brought to life by The Playhouse Company. 

In this intensely funny production, the audience witnesses the all-consuming power of greed and the extent to which it can drive people. However, this very serious truth about humanity is not conveyed as a deep moral lesson that the audience must learn from, instead it is drip fed to us as we sit watching powerless as one by one the play’s characters ‘bump’ each other off in order to get a greater share of the ill-gotten gains.  

The play opens by immediately breaking down the fourth wall for the audience in the intimate, thrust stage theatre. Constable MacDonald, played deftly by Peter Young, walks confidently through the rows of seats towards the stage to take his entrance. This isn’t the only instance of play literally leaping off the stage; this technique is repeated throughout the production making the play feel very interactive, very alive and very real. All in all, an extremely effective directorial decision!

Constable MacDonald’s first appearance on stage is a house call with lonely widow Mrs Wilberforce (Carol Oddy), whom the audience learns has been making allegations of Nazi-leanings against one of her neighbours. Peter Young’s Constable MacDonald depicts the tired bobby’s humouring of Mrs Wilberforce with finesse throughout the show. This humouring and gentle criticism of Mrs Wilberforce at the beginning of the play is an important detail regarding Mrs Wilberforce’s character which foreshadows the plot’s conclusion. Constable MacDonald implies that Mrs Wilberforce has too much time on her hands and has imagined the whole situation, rather than thinking logically. When ‘the ladykillers’ finally make their appearance, Professor Marcus (brilliantly played by Dominic Gittins) tells them that Mrs Wilberforce is unobservant, so they’ll be able to plan, carry out and even involve her directly in the robbery without her knowing a thing. The best laid plans, and all that? Of course, the audience know Mrs Wilberforce is fairly shrewd, she just has an overactive imagination due to living such a solitary life since her husband died. All this talk of solitude doesn’t sound very funny, does it? However, the production is chockful of flashes of expert comedic timing, misdirection and deadpan delivery. All masterfully carried out by the ensemble. 

Loath as I am to sing the praises of the production’s set after being told that this is the mark of a poor production (I was once told that you know a play you were in is not the best when your friends and family sing the praises of the set and lighting afterwards rather than the play and the performance of your cast mates or yourself), a laudatory word needs to be said. It really was fabulous thought out and impressively constructed. The placement of Mrs Wilberforce’s front door at the edge of the stage right by the audience contributed to the sensation of the cast interacting with the audience and the rattling shelves at the back of the set when a train went passed was magnificent. I shall leave my comments on the set on this admiring note in order to avoid any spoilers: bravo to the stage manager and the rest of The Playhouse Company for such impressive set design and construction!

Finally, a few words on the cast of The Playhouse Company’s production of The Ladykillers. The loveable One Round aka Mr Lawson was portrayed skilfully by William Browne “I’m Mr Lawson”. Romanian Louis Harvey (Tony Maisey) gave an amusing portrayal of the criminal, the highlight of which was the character’s mixed metaphors. Maisey walked the fine line between acting with an accent and not hamming it up dexterously by the way. Harry Robinson (Rupert Curtis) the OCD drug addict was another enjoyable performance as was Major Courtney (Paul Scott) the sensitive crossdressing criminal. Mrs Wilberforce’s friends, the old ladies at the musical performance who are led by Mrs Tromleyton (Caroline Greenwood) were comical caricatures of old aged women. However, Carol Oddy’s endearing portrayal of old age in her role as Mrs Wilberforce stole the show and the hearts of the audience in her sympathetic and poignant approach to the loneliness of the life of a widow seeking companionship. The hilariously, clumsy and energetic Professor Marcus (Dominic Gittins) contrasted beautifully with the sad window into real life that Carol Oddy brought on to the stage in her performance.  

All in all, this is an exciting production of The Ladykillers in terms of the talent both on and off the stage. It should not be missed by lovers of the original film, or by newcomers to the story. 

Now at The Playhouse Theatre in Cheltenham November 2^nd, 3^rd, 7^th, 8^th, 9^thand 10^th2018