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** This Play Marks My 50th Production. **
'ALLO 'ALLO
by Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft
Essendon Theatre Company
Directed by Kris Weber
Reviewed by Ken Barnes - 26 July 2007
As appearing in Theatrecraft - September 2007
Never a fan of table seating in supper-club style, I was not looking forward to the clinking of glasses and rustling of papers as the audience prepared for action at "Cafe Rene" in Essendon's Bradshaw Street hall. However the good-humoured audience soon settled down as Rene made an entrance and outlined his impossible situation. Beset by problems in juggling his relations with the Gestapo, the German Army, the French Resistance and fugitive British airmen, not to mention his frustrated wife Edith and his two mistresses, the hapless cafe proprietor's life promised to become even more complicated. The humour kicked in immediately and continued unabated as the plot developed, culminating in the appearance of several Fuhrer impersonators and general mayhem as Rene struggled to survive.
Successful casting and a convincing performance by the actor playing Rene is crucial in any staging of 'Allo 'Allo and it was a real treat for the audience to see Robert Urban in this central role. He is an accomplished actor with a wonderful sense of the timing, facial expression and body language necessary to extract the last ounce of humour from the hilarious situations set up by the authors. Robert was well supported by Katy Davies as long-suffering wife Edith, Christina Kyriakau as the delectable Yvette, Susan Flint as the chameleon-like resistance leader Michelle and Freda Mitris as coquettish Mimi LaBonq. All were audience favourites, though the diminutive Mimi's voice was barely audible at the rear of the hall.
Almost all of the actors playing German roles were impressive. Bob Caddy made an excellent Colonel Von Strohm and Michelle Tanner a delightful love-smitten Helga. Ian Cairncross was a very credible General Von Schmelling and a slightly less engaging Agent Crabtree. Two of the other actors - Jim Wheeler as Roger Leclerc and Troy McGuinness as Herr Flick - were new to the stage and their inexperience was sometimes evident. On the evening I attended, Drew Mason as the Italian Captain Bertorelli was a little over the top with gestures and volume and needed to polish up that Italian accent while Harley Woods was just the opposite: better voice projection and an energetic effort to camp it up would have made his portrayal of the gender-ambiguous Lieutenant Gruber more believable. Despite these few shortcomings, all actors fitted in with the overall scheme of things and none really let the side down.
The wide stage was divided into five segments: Rene and Edith's bedroom, Herr Flick's abode, the cafe, the pantry and Colonel Von Strohm's office. The props were well chosen and each scene was delineated by careful lighling arrangements. With so much of the comedy depending on precise timing, the director and stage manager (Ivan Neville) did a great job. They were supported by very good lighting and sound (Kris Weber, Michael Bentley, Peter Taurins and John Degabriele) and by excellent costumes, both in the uniforms and the fetching outfits worn by the female actors. Ian Cairncross and Eileen Bentley take a bow!
While the whole show was well executed, I thought there were four outstanding scenes. The first was Edith's impromptu out-of-tune song, the second was the cabaret item by the whole cafe team in Act I; the third was the preparation in the Colonel's office for impersonating Hitler (where Captain Bertorelli was hilarious); and the fourth was the bedroom scene in Act II. In the earlier scenes, choreography by Susan Flint and original music by Peter Taurins were impressive.
This was another very enjoyable theatre experience for your reviewer and it was a pleasure to see the Essendon Theatre Company continuing to attract large and appreciative audiences. |
