UK Theatre Network

I have seen better plots in a cemetery!

Mortimer and Brian Cooke who were responsible for the successful stage adaptation of Round The Horne... Revisited now return with their Kenneth Wiliams extravaganza Stop Messing About directed by Michael Kingsbury. The show which reunites Kenneth Williams with his Carry On co-stars Joan Sims and Hugh Paddick recreates the recording of two episodes of the radio show series including such classic sketches as The Driving Test and The Ballroom Dancing Rally as well as a number of movie adaptations.

Stop Messing About has a very nostalgic feel about it. It takes us back to the 1960s when jokes could be funny without swear words or being too explicit. We meet such familiar characters as Sir Inigo Parchmutter, Doctor Amanda Snatchforth, and the Kingston, Surbiton, Wimbledon and District Line Trio. My personal favourite was the first topless fish fryer in Fulham! The show is fast paced with perfect comic timing.

This is harmless fun and it certainly does not cross new boundaries but I found it quite entertaining. I especially enjoyed Charles Armstrong as Douglas Smith. (I might actually join the „Douglas Smith Appreciation Society“ just to meet its charming and witty chairman – Douglas Smith!) Having said that, the cast was impressive throughout. Robin Sebastian’s performance of Kenneth Williams was nothing less than brilliant. India Fisher gave a charming and witty Joan Sims and Nigel Harrison was an energetic Hugh Paddick.     

The show still runs until 16 June 2010 at the Richmond Theatre and then moves on to Southampton.

Richmond Theatre,The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
http://www.ambassadortickets.com/1800/659/Richmond/Richmond-Theatre/Stop-Messing-About