Review - Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense - The Little Theatre

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense 

The Little Theatre

16th Jan 2023

I rounded 2022 off with the Panto at the Little Theatre in Gateshead, and I am launching 2023 with the Progressive Players' first show of the new year. It snowed on both days, which I'm sure is just a coincidence but it does have a rather satisfactory symmetry to it.

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense by the Goodale Brothers is an adaption (obviously) of a tale by PG Wodehouse. In the programme the directors notes say the names Jeeves and Wooster are familiar to many of us...having seen a few contestants stumble on a Jeeves and Wooster question in TV quiz shows lately, I would venture to amend that to many of us "of a certain age"! I do remember Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, I also vaguely remember a series long before that when I was considerably younger. We do have the complete set of the novels in the library where I work (a former boss was an avid fan!) But I think the names are not so well known now as they once were. Not that that detracts at all from the show, you don't need to be familiar with the characters to appreciate the comedy. You do however, need to have a grasp of the social niceties of the 1920s upper classes, and the importance of a good butler and an excellent chef!  This is a play about one-upmanship - well, except for Bertie Wooster, for him it's more about maintaining his status quo! 

Bertie (Christopher Corbett) tells the tale of a bizarre series of events that befell him recently. The drama is re-enacted by himself , his butler Jeeves (Timothy Clark), and his aunt's Butler Seppings (Daniel Wilde). Bertie plays himself, and Jeeves and Seppings play all the other characters, (three of them female), and all of them on stage with each other at some point in the story... You can see the casting problem - and the results are hilarious! We have offstage conversations,  actors popping up in a new costume while their previous character hides under a bed...and finally, the piece de resistance, one actor wearing two costumes and talking to himself... Believe me, you have to see it to fully appreciate it! 

Photo credit: Jenny Race

The three members of the cast deliver their roles with great humour and skill, and considerable aplomb (it doesn't always quite go to plan - and there are many opportunities for recalcitrant props and scenery to misbehave, but it all adds to the fun, and you're never quite sure if the glitches aren't actually  deliberate!). There are stolen cow-creamers, secret engagements, newts, dubious notebooks and even more dubious wigs, not to mention the sideburns, misunderstandings and misconceptions galore! All of this, (and only two boring bits!) plus plenty of interaction with the audience make for an hilarious evening of perfect nonsense. 

This is light hearted fun and an absolutely spiffing start to the new year. It   plays until 21st January and you can buy tickets from the box office on or online at www.progressiveplayers.co.uk 

Denise Sparrowhawk

Review - Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense - Royalty Theatre

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense

Royalty Theatre
19th March 2018

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense is based on the story "The Code of the Woosters" written by P G Wodehouse in 1938. It takes the form of a play within a play as Bertie stages a dramatic representation of the recent events at Totleigh Towers.
It begins with Bertie introducing his idea of the play, which is to be a One Man Show performed by himself. After all, he says, how hard could it be? It very soon becomes apparent that it is considerably harder than Bertie had imagined and he calls on his Butler Jeeves to assist. Fortunately the ever resourceful Jeeves, knowing the shortcomings of his master has anticipated the problem and made arrangements in the form of scenery, and supporting actors. Or to be precise, supporting butlers. He has recruited fellow butlers Seppings and Wilkins to play themselves, and all the other characters in the play - including the female characters. And so we are set up for a play with wobbly scenery, terrible wigs, and unconvincing acting as the two butlers find themselves having to play several characters, often at the same time. They exit suddenly stage left to return seconds later sporting a wig, or a hat, or a frock. It provides for some ridiculous and hilarious moments, most of which are scripted, though on the first night quite a few were not quite, and there was a lot of opportunity for ad libbing, as props refused to co-operate, costumes malfunctioned and the actors swapped character so quickly they confused even themselves!

This is not classic Wodehouse as you might expect it. The script may well use his erudite words but most of the laughter comes from the physical humour. James Errington as Bertie has the challenging job of  keeping the narrative going for the entire play, not so easy when your scenery misbehaves and your fellow cast members are in danger of corpsing. He copes admirably with the trials the performance throws his way. There are quite a few moments that may, or may not, have been scripted, and some that certainly weren't. It's a tribute to Errington's presence of mind that he was able to negotiate his way through all of them and transform them into assets to the performance.

John Seymour plays Jeeves with the most convincing sang-froid of a truly great English butler. Dead pan throughout almost all of the proceedings, he allows himself only the slightest show of disdain, a tad more disgust at one point, and just a touch of butler-ish smugness when required.

The stars of the show however have to be Seppings and Wilkins who swap between characters at a frenetic pace. I think they and the rest of the cast can be forgiven for occasionally forgetting which one they were meant to be playing. Now, pay attention - Lee Wilkins plays (slightly confusingly) Wilkins, Sir Watkin Bassett, Madeline Bassett, Gussie Fink-Nottle and Stiffy Byng. The scene where he has to be both Sir Watkin Bassett and Madeline Bassett at the same time is a classic. Thom Kelly plays Seppings, Proprietor (of the antique store  - a rare silver cow creamer is integral to the story, but you will need to see the play to find out how and why; it is simply beyond the scope of this reviewer to even begin to explain the rest of the plot), Butterfield, and Wooster's Aunt Dahlia. He nails each one but his Aunt Dahlia is an absolute triumph.

The lighting and sound crew are spot on - most notably when the scenic malfunction required a discreet blackout! The set and costumes are a mix of simplicity and ingenuity, adding authenticity and humour to the play.

There is a lot going on in this play, and Alex Goodchild has set himself quite a challenge for his directorial debut. Judging from his comments in the programme and the obvious fun that was being had on stage, I suspect directing this lot may have been not dissimilar to herding cats and mostly it has worked. It may not be entirely perfect. There is a certainly a lot of nonsense. But, it is very funny, entertaining nonsense.

Jeeves and Wooster will be perfecting their nonsense until Saturday 24th March. Get along to it.

Denise Sparrowhawk

Preview - Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense - Royalty Theatre

ROYALTY THEATRE TO PRODUCE JEEVES AND WOOSTER ADAPTATION

The Royalty Theatre will continue their 2017/18 season with The Goodale Brothers’

sparkling comedy, Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’.

Based upon the works of PG Wodehouse, this brand-new adaptation follows Bertie Wooster as he attempts to play match-maker with the drippy Madeline Bassett and his friend Gussy Fink-Nottle.  Luckily his valet, Jeeves, is on hand to assist – and hopefully prevent Bertie from having to marry Madeline himself.

Director Alex Goodchild says, “It's been such a pleasure for my first directorial role to be with such a classic and cleverly written comedy. Couple that with such a comedically gifted cast, and the process has been a laugh a minute. If the audience enjoys the show even 10% as much as I've enjoyed directing it, then they'll be in for a great night.”

PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster stories have enjoyed enormous popularity over the years, notably inspiring a television series starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.  This adaptation by the Goodale Brothers won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

John Seymour and James Errington

Credit: Royalty Theatre

James Errington leads the cast as Bertie Wooster, with John Seymour playing the inimitable Jeeves.  Lee Wilkins and Royalty debutant Tom Kelly complete the cast.

The play comes just a week after the Royalty Theatre scooped the top award at the inaugural Durham and Sunderland One-Act Play Festival at Arts Centre Washington. Their entry, Too Faithed, by local writer Lee Stewart, goes through to the regional semi-finals in May.

Plays remaining this season are Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Perfect Nonsense’ (19-24 Mar), Temple (25-28 April), Move Over Mrs Markham (21-26 May) and The Wind in the Willows (25-30 June).

 Tickets can be booked via www.ticketsource.co.uk/royaltytheatre or on 0333 666 3366, and are priced at £8 (£6.50 concessions).