Jeeves & Wooster: Perfect Nonsense, King's Theatre, Review

Submitted by Alex Eades on Tue, 12 May '15 1.55pm
Rating (out of 5)
4
Show details
Production
Sean Foley (Director), Michael Gyngell (Set and Costume Designer), James Farncombe (Lighting Designer), Ben and Max Ringham (Music and Sound Designers)
Performers
Jason Thorpe (Jeeves), Robert Webb (Bertie Wooster), Christopher Ryan (Seppings)
Running time
120mins

A lifelong fan of the works of P G Wodehouse, I was very much looking forward to tonight’s performance of Jeeves And Wooster: Perfect Nonsense at the Kings Theatre, Edinburgh. Yes, I was dubious as to whether it would stand up to the classic 90’s television adaptions, famously portrayed by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, but when it comes to Wodehouse how can you possibly go wrong?

Bertie Wooster has found himself in the usual odd kind of pickle, being called upon to steal a silver cow creamer from Totleigh Towers. Of course, nothing is quite as straight forward as all that and soon finds himself in all kinds of a bother. Thankfully, his good man Jeeves is at hand to save the day.

Whilst Perfect Nonsense may not have quite the wit and subtle charm of Fry and Laurie’s much adored adventures, it makes up for this with enough zippy energy and pantomime antics to keep the audience wildly amused. Robert Webb is splendidly cast as the gormless Bertie Wooster, but it is Jason Thorpe, who plays multiple characters, including the gentle genius Jeeves, who deserves the most plaudits.

It’s all very silly stuff and perhaps not quite as sharp as the Wodehouse we all know and love, but if you’re after an evening of spiffing entertainment and a jolly good time, you could do far worse than an evening with Jeeves and Wooster.

Show times

11-16 May, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat 2.30pm)