Directed by Caroline Leslie
Designed by Tom Rogers
Lighting designed by Tim Lutkin
Composer Paul Herbert
Emily Bowker Lauren Bell
Eleanor Brown Jessica Steele
Michael Hadley Nigel Dewbury
Jackie Morrison Dorothy Nettle
Sarah Moyle Mary Plunkett
Mitchell Mullen Jefferson Steel
Damian Myerscough Denis Dobbins
The Times
“…the cast of seven are game and skilful and sing beautifully in the snatches of Shakespeare songs that bookend scenes in Caroline Leslie’s spirited production.”
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The Mail on Sunday ****
“…a laugh-a-minute.”
“…the play fits glove-like into the weeny Watermill, principally because the theatre is where this light-as-a-feather farce belongs, for it is all about the transforming power of theatre.”
“Deliciously stuffed with Shakespeare…and lovely sung snippets from the Fool’s wistful, wise songs, the play works because the actors in Caroline Leslie’s perfectly pitched production take their preposterous characters desperately seriously. Which is the only way farce can function with any fun.”
WhatsonStage *****
“…terrific comedy packed with killer comic dialogue has a great story, with plenty of twists and turns.”
“The Hislop/Newman partnership... show their class in brilliant comic riffs with a joke in every line topped only by the next one, all delivered with perfect precision by this fine cast.”
“Designer Tom Rogers rises magnificently to the challenge of fitting multiple sets into the space…all perfectly lit with changing colours by Tim Lutkin.”
“The evening is a total and mounting delight.”
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theatreCat
“Cue an evening of raging, pathos, bathos, and fine old-fashioned farcical fun.”
“They have also, with oddly moving effect, used the Fool’s songs from Lear, set by Paul Herbert, to cover with rueful aptness the scene-changes.”
“Hislop and Newman are human enough to let in real emotions, not to mention sentimentalities about the redemptive power of theatre ( with which I of course concur). But they’re savvy enough to temper both with sharply funny bathos.”
“There’s a lot of love gone into this production, under Caroline Leslie’s skilled direction”.
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The Stage
“… a delightfully funny take on professional meets amateur theatre. The acerbic wit of Hislop and Newman metamorphoses into some hugely funny one-liners verging on farce in the best possible way.”
“I have to confess to a degree of hesitation prior to seeing this world stage premiere at the Watermill. However, with the proven writing talents of Hislop and Newman and the Watermill’s highly respected reputation as a leading production house, I need not have worried.”
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British Theatre Guide
“…a hilarious witty comedy that had the audience laughing out loud from the very beginning.”
“…this new cracking stage version... fizzes along with verve and energy.”
“There are some beautiful songs from Lear’s Fool composed by Paul Herbert and Tom Roger’s set is impressively inventive.”
“Directed with skill and aplomb by Caroline Leslie, this is a thoroughly enjoyable production and the audience loved it.”
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Newbury Theatre
“Judging by the audience reaction, director Caroline Leslie has created a very popular production.”
“The Watermill is an ideal setting for the barn where the production takes place”
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