REVIEW OF 2009 SUMMER COMEDY THEATRE
Courtesy of Largs & Millport Weekly News

Even if it was raining outside, the Largs Players once again shone in their quaint seaside setting of Brisbane Centre with high farce, love and deception, and a good deal of confusion thrown in for good measure!

Such a mix always guarantees dollops of good humour, and both plays take place at a frantic pace, packed with great gags, slapstick and virtuoso performances from the leading lights of the local amateur drama group.

Lasting only 35 minutes each, the one-act plays pack in plenty of midsummer mirth.

The feisty first production "Caught on the Hop" by David Foxton takes place in a Paris in the 1890s.

Returning home unexpectedly early from a meeting with her lover, Sophie Fontaineau (played by Linda McMurray) finds that her husband Etienne (Drew Cochrane) is absent and immediately becomes suspicious that he is seeing another lover.

The porter, played by George Whitestone, soon gets inadvertently involved as Sophie accidentally spills brandy all down his trousers and, there are hoots aplenty, as she insists upon him removing the wet clothes.

The escapade rolls along at a rollicking pace and before you know it, not only is Etienne back home, but the porter is disguised as Sophie's aged aunt in a drastic bid not to arouse any suspicions of any foul play, but his head veil is soon unmasked.

Further complications ensue when Etienne's lover, "Esmeralda", played by Janet Watt, appears and recognises the porter - as her husband.

Clothilde, played by director of the play Joan McMath, is the long-suffering maid, and provides the final twist to this delightful comedy.

It is surprising to learn that this is Linda McMurray's first role at the Comedy Theatre and shows that she is indeed a class act on the comedy circuit too. Drew Cochrane provides a brilliant foil and displays exasperation at his wife's antics throughout, in full Quasimodo costume!

George Whitestone was ideally suited (until he showed off his long-johns!) for the role of the Porter, and Janet Watt played to her strengths as 'the nomadic creature' Esmeralda.

Special praise must go to Joan McMath who took a true lead as director as she had to fill in at the last minute as Clothilde, and maybe given she has the final say in the whole production and the actual play itself with a stunning revelation, it was somewhat apt!

The younger stars of Largs Players then got their chance to shine for the production of "Albert" by Richard Harris in a case of modern day accidental tourists.

The language barrier was examined to hilarious effect during the chance meeting of Finnish au-pair Karin (Laura Archbold), Italian visitor Nico (Scott MacColl) and the eponymous Englishman Albert (Alistair Archbold).

Just like going on holiday, it is sometimes difficult to pick up other languages when you join in the lingo, and with neither character speaking each other's language, chaos ensues! Thankfully for the benefit of the audience, the spoken word is in English throughout!

From toilet troubles to signs of affection and overtures, there are many hilarious incidents, as identities are mistaken, body language misunderstood, and gestures are confused, and builds up to an entertaining and surprising conclusion.

Confusion reigns in this fabulous farce and it is all carried off with a professional expertise under the watchful eye of director Gordon McMurray.

In playing Albert, Alistair Archbold puts in a barnstorming performance and lends gravitas to the prim and proper English gent who is almost a stranger abroad in having to deal with his foreign friends.

A new addition is Scott MacColl who looked completely at home in playing his first lead as passionate Italian Nico, who was able to ream off the whole Italian football squad ... including substitutes Nardini and Narducci!

Players stalwart Laura Archbold, wife of Alistair, played off the two lead roles with style as she played the meek and mild-mannered, Karin. Special mention must go to the Morecambe and Wise double act of Gordon McMurray and Ian Somerville who provided on-the-spot laughter during the raffle at the interval, and enjoyed an excellent repartee with the crowd.

All in all, a fantastic evening of entertainment which rushes by, with plenty of hilarity and good humour. Leave the Sky satellite at home and come and enjoy some live theatre action by the sea and enjoy a terrific laugh, as yet again, the Largs Players Comedy Theatre is not to be missed.