Theatre Review: See How They Run at the Theatre Royal, Windsor
Rose Harland • Published 20 Sep 2011 09:30
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Runaway success: Rachel Domovan as Ida and Lucy Speed as Miss Skilion in See How They Run.
WHEN it becomes necessary for a bishop to cry, "Sergeant, arrest most of these vicars!" it is evident something has gone awry.
Starting with the independent-minded wife (Siobhan O'Kelly) of a well-intentioned village vicar (Alastair Whatley) tiring of local gossip Miss Skillon (Lucy Speed) and meeting up with an old acting chum now in the army (David Partridge), the evening quickly evolves into a series of disguises, misunderstandings, accidental intoxication and witty dialogue involving the bishop (Arthur Bostrom), an escaped German prisoner (Rhys King) and ultimately four vicars.
Philip King's play was set, written and first performed during World War Two, when its portrayal of a heel-clicking Nazi soldier overcome by all levels of Merton-cum-Middlewick society pulling together despite themselves must have been a form of encouragement as well as a welcome evening of escape into laughter. However, the humour holds up equally well to modern audiences, aided by the superb cast's seamless working and comic timing, under the assured directorial debut of Chris Harper.
Every note - from Rachel Donovan's straight-faced slapstick maid, Sebastian Abineri's booming sergeant and Leo Atkin's hapless vicar - chimes together and shows audiences where some moments of Fawlty Towers or Dad's Army were done funniest, first - an achievement all the more remarkable considering the joyous and triumphant script was written when things seemed at their worst.
See How They Run is at Theatre Royal, Windsor in Thames Street until Saturday, September 24. Performances are at 8pm with an additional matinee on Thursday at 2.30pm and on Saturday at 4.45pm.
Tickets start from £11 via 01753 853888 or www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
The same reparatory cast have also been performing Twelfth Night and are touring both plays across the UK until December, produced by the Original Theatre Company with support from Eastbourne Theatres, Anvil Arts and South Hill Park in Bracknell, where both plays were also performed.
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 20 Sep 11
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