Ian Waller enjoys an evening of nostalgia with a clever adaptation of a British cinema classic
Post war British cinema of the late 1940s and early 50s had a tough and crucial job to do – help to cheer up a nation which was still hurting from the efforts and loses of a world war. Playing a key part in these efforts was a series of wonderfully crafted comedies from a studio in London which become known as the Ealing Comedies, all perfectly British, brilliantly acted and incredibly entertaining vignettes of society from a sideways glance.
One of the best was the superb The Lavender Hill Mob, starring Alec Guiness (later to become Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars) as timid and thoroughly unremarkable employee of the Bank of England who happens to be planning the heist of the century.
Now a wonderfully clever, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable version of this classic caper has made its way to the stage of Theatre Royal Bath and succeeds in becoming the most gentle and agreeable of stage hits, that’s a joy to watch, whether you’re familiar with the original or not.
Taking on Alex Guiness’s famous role is the always dependable Miles Jupp, back at Bath’s finest theatre following a turn a few years back in his wonderful one man show based on the life of David Tomlinson, The Life I Lead. This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jupp live – once in stand-up and the others in witty drama – and while never going as far as exactly stretching his acting credentials, he always delivers.
This time around Jupp plays Henry Holland, our mild-mannered hero, as a down trodden fellow though still with the heart of romantic, who loves gangster themed penny dime novelettes, while dreaming and plotting of something all together more exciting.
A chance meeting with amateur artist and foundry owner Alfred Pendlebury (Justin Edwards) suddenly allows the missing pieces of his masterplan to fall into place and before long, the games afoot.
How the film version is successfully transferred to the stage is thanks to the skills and ingenuity of Phil Porter, moving the story telling to a new years eve party in Buenos Aires with a group of ex-pats and friends retelling the caper for the benefit of a mysterious and recently arrived acquaintance of Holland’s.
What follows is charming and fun, slightly silly, occasionally very funny and always full of energy. Throughout the talented cast are given free range to spotlight their skills for character acting, taking on multiple parts each and leaving all traces of subtly backstage in the changing rooms. OK, it’s more Carry On than high drama, but that’s the point – you’re left wondering less about the man’s inhumanity to man and more about how they get away with those decades old French stereotypes.
Along the way there’s car chases, criminal capers, cross channel escapades and even the Eiffel Tower transferred to mid-stage of a Bath theatre. And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed it – just old-school, carefree, theatrical fun, cleverly created and perfectly portrayed.
The Lavender Hill Mob appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 6th to Saturday 11th February. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk