Last night I went along to The Orchard Theatre to see the play, SOME MOTHERS DO 'AV 'EM Written and Directed by Guy Unsworth, based on the TV series by Raymond Allen. I'd only ever seen one episode of the TV series prior to going to see the play, so I had a rough idea what expect, although I am certainly no expert. To my delight, the play was based on the exact episode I had seen, and it was lovely to have that in my mind as I watched on. The audience, on the whole, seemed to be well-seasoned fans of the show, and judging by the hoots of laughter and joyful reactions, I would say the stage show does a fantastic job of representing the TV show that people know and love.
Joe Pasquale is perfectly cast as the quirky, slow-off-the-mark Frank Spencer. He brings fantastic professionalism to the part and he has lovingly created a very honorable representation of the character. Pasquale's trademark high-pitched voice is a wonderful addition to Frank, and his physical comedy is expertly executed. I don't recall having seen Joe Pasquale in a stage show before, but there's no doubt that he is a very professional actor, who leads this cast with ease.
I knew from the off that we were in for some laughs when I saw Susie Blake was playing Mrs Fisher (Betty Spencer's mother). As a huge Victoria Wood fan, I have seen what a comedic performer Susie Blake can be, of course she has an extensive CV alongside that too.
Well, she was hilarious. They say never meet your heroes, but I can safely say that you can definitely go and see them on stage. She was so good that I found myself laughing along with her even when she had no lines. Her comic acting style, which is rooted in reality, is a masterclass of performance. She is hands down, one of the best "drunks" I've seen on stage. She knew just how to get the most out of her character, without ever taking it too far. A true professional.
The supporting cast all played their parts with energy, good humour and professionalism. I loved Moray Treadwell's switch from one part to another, James Paterson was a marvellous Father O'Hara and Ben Watson transformed between Desmond and the Constable with ease.
Sarah Earnshaw was endearing and sweet as Betty Spencer, she had wonderful chemisty with Joe Pasquale and the relationship between them both was very believable and sincere. She gave the audiences one of the biggest laughs of the night at the end of the play with just a "look". That's a sign of a very good performer.
The set was delightful. Without giving away any spoilers, for anyone who hasn't seen the TV show, it does its job perfectly and serves as an extra reminder of poor Frank's ineptitude throughout. It (the set) reminded me of, The Play That Goes Wrong, but more refrained and subtle. I actually prefered how the set was utilised in SOME MOTHERS DO 'AV 'EM and wondered if this inspired The Play That Goes Wrong in any way.
If you are a fan of the TV Series, this is a fantastically loving, heartfelt and accurate representation of the show, performed expertly by wonderful character actors. The audience were hooting and laughing throughout, the set is superb and it is well worth a trip to the theatre. If you have never seen the TV series, I don't believe you will have needed to. As a stand alone pieve of theatre, you very quickly get the measure of Frank and his unique personality and you will still chuckle and enjoy what is a wonderful piece of theatre.
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