UK Theatre Network

Pools Paradise

Reviewed at Darlington Civic Theatre

Ian Dickens Productions’ tenth summer repertory season is being brought to a close with Philip King’s farce, ‘Pools Paradise.’

Set in the sleepy village of Merton-cum-Middlewick, it seems that the vicar’s wife has come up trumps on the football pools with a sizeable win. The only trouble is her pious husband doesn’t know she’s been having a weekly flutter and staunchly disapproves of gambling. Already frowned upon by some of the more sanctimonious parishioners, particularly Miss Skillon, because of her background as an actress, poor Penelope Toop finds herself in a bit of a quandary.

While she waits for the results to be officially confirmed via her simple-minded maid Ida and her doltish boyfriend Willie Briggs, Penelope tries to come up with a way of breaking the news to her husband.

In true farce tradition, nothing goes according to plan. The vicarage quickly becomes a scene of complete chaos as coupons are mistakenly switched and switched again, trousers are lost, and lots of madcap chases ensue.

David Callister gives a decent performance as the Reverend Lionel Toop, whilst Kathryn Dimery is a delight as the frazzled Penelope. Julia Main’s performance as Ida is anything but subtle and Helen Jeckells, as Miss Skillon, could never be accused of underacting. David Janson makes the most of the slightly thankless part of Reverend Humphrey, whilst Ben Roberts and Frankie Fitzgerald, as the Bishop of Lax and Willie Briggs respectively, do little to earn top billing in roles that are undemanding to say the least.

The play was written almost fifty years ago and, these days, has something of a sentimental nostalgia about it. When first performed, I suppose it would have been considered far more risqué. By today’s standards, the jokes and gags are tired and unfunny and the piece doesn’t really stand the test of time.

That said, the vast majority of the audience (who were senior citizens) seemed to be having a ball.

Steve Burbridge.

‘Pools Paradise’ runs at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday 4^th July 2009.