THE
LADYKILLERS
at
the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
14.12.11
Fans
of the '55 film – and they are legion – have nothing to fear.
This
is not a spoof – think 39 Steps – nor is it a "remake",
like the Coens ill-judged Hollywood version.
What
we get is an affectionate, respectful treatment of the screenplay,
with a little bit of edge and a few nuggets of comedy gold for the
21st Century. Even the music [Ben and Max Ringham] pays
homage to the original.
Three
elements in particular make Sean Foley's production, down here at the
Gielgud after a successful run in Liverpool, one of the best things
in town. The script, by Graham [Black Books] Linehan keeps much of
the dialogue, but sifts and adds, tightening the pace and bringing
almost all of the action indoors.
The
set – Michael Taylor - is a marvellous crooked house, on several
levels, none of them horizontal, with a staircase spiralling off into
the flies. Its impressive revolve also hosts the Heist – birds-eye
view – and the Copenhagen tunnel. In one show-stopping set-piece, a
passing train sets in motion a crazy ballet of furniture and
fittings. And the cast is faultless, from the bizarre Little Britain
gaggle of lady visitors to the little old landlady – Marcia Warren,
who's much in demand for this kind of role – and her lodger, the
sinister Professor Marcus [a brilliant Peter Capaldi].
His
gang of five – the string quintet – includes James Fleet as the
Major, a shifty conman now also a cross-dresser, eagerly eyeing Mrs
W's lilac gown, Clive Rowe as a slow-witted ex-boxer, Ben Miller as
the idiomatically challenged Romanian, and Stephen Wight as Harry –
popping pills and on the sharp end of much of the slapstick.
There
is satire [Bankers!] and wit - "Being
fooled by art is one of the primary pleasures afforded the
middle
class" – with plenty of farce [the blackboard, the meeting in
the poky cupboard] and running gags. And those fans will welcome the
Boccherini, and Marcus's endless scarf ...
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