Show: The Ladykillers
Society: Guildburys Theatre Company
Venue: The Electric Theatre
Credits: Graham Linehan
Type: Sardines
Author: Nigel Dams
Performance Date: 22/03/2023
The Ladykillers
Nigel Dams | 23 Mar 2023 10:55am
Photo: Jonathan Constant
Marx Brothers meets Reservoir Dogs
It’s been a while since I saw a Guildburys show – since before 2020 in fact – so I arrived full of pleasurable anticipation.
And I wasn’t disappointed. As is usual with Guildburys, the set was bold, striking, well-built … if it walked into a pub everyone would turn to look. And the players did it justice. The show started well and built and built with many a laugh, some poignant moments, some slapstick and a few murders.
Claire Racklyeft impressed from the start with a very nuanced and confident portrayal of the sweet old dear telling the policeman (Eddie Woolrich, well done, just right) a story that would make anyone think she was losing her marbles – a great bit of misdirection from the author right out of the gate.
In came the criminal mastermind, Jay Orbaum, with the voice, bearing and assurance of a professional. The two played off each other very well, smooth, false urbanity versus fluttery, confused and how-about-a-cup-of-tea-dear. It was shaping up to be another outstanding Guildburys show.
Then one by one the rest of the gang arrived. Neil James as a major with a moustache and just the right blend of dashing military elan and nice-but-dim smiling. We discover later that this ‘war hero’ has a touching fondness for ladies wear. He was not allowed any cross-dressing by the otherwise fearless director, inventive Ian Nichols. But fans of gender-blending need not have felt miffed, because the major was followed by Harry, played by Harriet Powell, a pill-popping just-out-of-jail spiv, and later by Gabi King playing a very menacing mafioso wielding a violin case like a weapon. They were all really good, vocally and physically (excellent grimacing, Gabi).
I have to make special mention of Oli Bruce, which seems a little unfair on the rest of the cast, because they were all excellent, but he had a peach of a part and did it superbly. From his very first line he impressed with his booming, forceful and very funny portrayal of a punch-drunk boxer with hidden depths. His face, voice and body language were outstanding in that role, pretty much perfect, I thought.
So the action progressed, the ensemble making a lovely job of a first-class script until the unavoidable moment when, swag ’safely’ stowed, and escape imminent, the dear old landlady reminded them that they’d promised to give a concert. None of them has a clue about violins and cellos. Once more, body language, voice and face were superbly combined to portray the desperate desire to escape fate. But there was no chance. The hostess had already invited a bunch of her friends, and lo, they’re at the door.
In they swarmed, and it was so funny. What a flapping and clucking and squawking they made as they suddenly filled the stage with music-loving old ladies, some with prominent adam’s apples. What are our criminal gang going to do? The only thing they can do … strike up the band.
That too was so well done, you’d swear the cast had studied physical humour for years at a top drama school.
I could go on and on describing details, but you’d do better to see the show. I want to describe how good the knife-throwing was, how much it took me by surprise, but that might be a spoiler. So, no more details. Except to say that the parrot has the final word.
I think Guildburys are a truly top-notch theatre company. Congratulations to everyone involved. I’m so glad I went. You should go too.
- : admin
- : 22/03/2023