by Stephen Grigg
Director Rod Duncan has his work cut out in this terrific play, as the cast
of four play no less than - gulp - 39 parts between them. The inventive
mobile sets make an invaluable fifth, albeit inanimate, cast member. The
hilarious mobile toilet scene for example is unforgettable. The giant
projection screen is also an effective flourish.
John Fereday is well cast as Wormold, an unsuccessful vacuum cleaner
salesman turned superspy and purveyor of dubious weapons of mass
destruction.
Fereday's Mensaesque memory is required since he is on stage for
practically 99% of the time. The consistently reliable Phil Gascoyne plays
MI5 spook Hawthorne who improbably recruits Wormold who proceeds to play
fantasy espionage with increasingly serious results.
The plot is so outrageously farcical, one suspects it must have some
semi-autobiographical resonance. Indeed the old adage Write What You Know is
true in novelist Greene's story.
There's a clever U-turn in the second act as enjoyable silliness morphs
into a gripping, intriguing and absorbing thriller. There is a genuine shock
as Everyman hero Wormold takes matters into his own hands with deadly force.
Ross Bannister relishes his over the top Cuban caricatures including Police
captain Segura, a marvellously moustachioed Chief, and Wormold's nice but
dim assistant Lopez. Fran Rooker is on form as Wormold's daughter Milly
and just to confuse everyone also plays Wormold's love interest, Beatrice.
The superb soundtrack is worth the entrance fee alone. Expect it to be on
sale in the foyer alongside calendars sometime soon?
Call 0114-2853450 for details.
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