13 Jun 2023
P.G Wodehouse’s iconic duo visit the Abbey Theatre for a dose of hilarious family fun. Deborah Heath was in the audience.
If you are after madcap comedy, which is clean, clever and suitable for the whole family then look no further than Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, presented by Company of Ten at the Abbey Theatre until 17th June.
The basic angle of this play is that Bertie Wooster, portrayed with strength and humour throughout by Guy Conroy-Smith, recounts to the audience, sometimes with our interaction, the story of a hilarious recent weekend away.
Based mainly on the Wodehouse novel ‘The Code of the Woosters’, the story of ‘Perfect Nonsense’ itself is full of comic twists and turns. However, this adaptation by The Goodale Brothers gives the fast-paced story an added layer of fun as the large cast is played by only three actors!
Bertie’s partners in this play are Jeeves and his Aunt Dhalia’s butler Seppings who play all the other roles between them.
My teenage companion (he wasn’t the only teenager in the audience as this play is so widely appealing) was surprised at the small cast list but was far from disappointed. What an extremely versatile pair these actors were. I particularly liked Mark Dawson’s Sir Watkin and Roy Bookham’s Madeleine.
Director Maureen Bukht obviously had a very clear vision and worked her actors hard to achieve this level of character distinction.
As ever, the Company of Ten’s production values were superb. Having seen the West End version of this play some years ago, I wondered if the props and staging team would be able to successfully replicate it. I need not have worried as Judith Goodban’s set design was absolutely outstanding.
This was no mean feat because it couldn’t just look good from one angle – it needed to be multi-functional and easily moveable as pieces are generally wheeled on by the characters.
For instance, Jeeves pushed on one central piece as a chimney breast in Bertie’s flat. Later it was opened up to be an antique shop and later still turned around to become a library.
I loved Gill Stratford’s costumes, especially a very special one which enabled a four-person scene to be played by only three actors. However, I don’t want to give away any more as there are some absolute treasures in this production and I want you to experience them for yourselves. Anna Barrett’s 1920s style props were also a joy to behold.
The way some of them became costumes was fun – lampshades as hats, a curtain as a dress. I must give the three actors an added piece of praise at their amazing ability to change from one costume to another so quickly (often onstage behind a screen) whilst maintaining their character. It was quite simply seamless work.
‘Perfect Nonsense’ is a farcical piece of storytelling played by three talented comic actors.
The teamwork between them is quite simply exemplary. If you are a Wodehouse fan like me you will be delighted with the way it is true to the book.
If you are simply looking for a feelgood night out you need look no further. I haven’t laughed so much in ages, thank you Company of Ten!
