Last updated 11:46, Tuesday, 14 October 2008

The Play’s The Thing, West Walls Theatre, Carlisle, last night PG WODEHOUSE’S The Play’s The Thing is exactly the kind of farcical comedy that the Green Room Club does so well, so it’s amazing that the amateur theatre group haven’t performed one before (according to director John Metcalfe). n The Play’s The Thing runs until Saturday, all at 7.30pm.

Stage presence: Frank Cosgrove as Almady and Sharron D Bulman as Ilona

Green Room actors and directors are increasingly confident and experienced, here they bring to life typically well-observed Wodehouse characters.

The play’s clever conceit is to stage a play within a play, with actors introducing themselves directly to the audience, even joking that such things “can be interminable”.

The production relies on the brilliant comic expressions of Mark Davidson and John Metcalfe and, even more so, on an hilarious OTT performance by Frank Cosgrove. John Newbery is an endearing 72-year-old footman and the rest of the cast, Sharron D Bullman, Frank Wilson and Jason Munn all give strong performances.

Set in the Italian Riviera castle of a rich count (who the audience never sees), in the 1920s, where the main characters are guests, confusion, sex and a cover-up drive the action. Playwrights Turai (Metcalfe) and Mansky (Munn), and their librettist Albert (Davidson) overhear Albert’s fiancée Ilona (Bullman), their prima donna (who doesn’t know they have arrived), seemingly making love to famous actor Almady (her mentor and former lover, played by Cosgrove).

Turai comes up with a clever ruse to save Illona’s reputation, Albert’s love and to embarrass Almady.

The play really comes into its own in act three though, working up to a fever pitch of hysteria and a very satisfying conclusion.

Frank Cosgrove really steals the show here, as the disgraceful, ageing hammy actor who realises too late that he’s been stitched up and humiliated by Turai.

His recitation of “perfectly frightful” French names “with six hyphens and all the de la’s and surs” is a joy to watch in itself. His ill-fitting wig which he self-consciously kept on his head only added to the performance.

PG Wodehouse might not be your bag. You might never have heard of The Play’s The Thing. But it’s one of the most entertaining evenings to be had this month.

KATE REES

Tickets £7/£6 from Carlisle TIC. Call 01228 625600.