The
Ladykillers
-
part of the 50th anniversary season
Original screenplay
- William Rose
Adapter - Giles Croft
Director - Richard Baron
Designer - Ken Harrison
Lighting Designer - Mark Pritchard
Sound Designer - Jon Beales
Company - Pitlochry Theatre Company
Venue - Pitlochry Festival Theatre www.pitlochry.org.uk
01796 484626 accessible by rail, bus and by car takes 1hr
30 mins from centre of Edinburgh.
Dates - see listings for details
Runs in rep until with other plays, season ends 13 October 2001
Reviewer - Thelma Good
With a wonderful cockeyed set by Ken Harrison, and
a period feel for the film original this stage production of the Ladykillers
has amazing action delivered with skill and great timing. Professor
Marcus and his oddly assorted gang swarm through and over widow Mrs
Wilberforce's house. Alice Fraser starring as Mrs Wilberforce
makes this part her own. Hers is a fine characterisation of a eccentric
lady who inherited 4 parrots, including the still surviving General
Gordon, from her sunken husband. Her house sinks itself now, a victim
of the WW2 bombing, the production's squint set adding to the furious
comic business as Mrs Wilberforce's quiet life is taken over by Professor
Marcus's plan.
General Gordon escapes, and Ian Grieve as a nice but very dim
One-Round becomes the first to call her Mum after the ensusing chase.
Soon teddy boy Harry, Steven Kynman, excellent in another of
his seemingly nice, innocent boy-man roles, is trying to fix the plumbing,
stripping off his leopard skin trimmed jacket, quiff a quiver with style.
The nearby train signals and lines help the story along - old fashioned
trains hoot and some of the story is back lit against curtains and steam,
in the flimic tradition. Alec Heggie, a prof with a long scarf
charms Mrs Wiberforce and the audience, his feet at ten to two. Martyn
James makes a ruddy faced Major some of us encountered as uncles
back then, and Jimmy Chisholm completes the assortment as Louis,
an Eastend gangster with mobster leanings and accent. The policeman,
Mikush Sapieha comes across well as the kindly London Bobby of
yore.
This Spring I enjoyed,
in its UK tour, Richard Baron's recent production of The 39 Steps.
This Ladykillers is even more fun and shows that Pitlochry's
rep season can achieve far more consistent interest and variety with
ace production values than we see in most other companies' winter seasons.
© Thelma Good 12 May 2001
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