A cast change in the relatively long running West End comedy JEEVES AND WOOSTER in PERFECT NONSENSE allowed me to finally see what all the fuss is about. I’m happy to confirm that it’s as laugh out loud funny as everyone says and you should take anybody you know who could benefit from two hours of undemanding, hilarious fun.They’ve been portrayed on stage a lot too; there’s a forgettable Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about them, Wodehouse made a rather half-hearted attempt to include Jeeves in a drawing room comedy and this is a revival of an adaptation by life-long fans Bobby and David Gooddale. What makes it such a hit, however is the approach director Sean Foley has taken and some sparkling star turns from the casts including the current team; John Gordon Sinclair as Jeeves, James Lance as Bertie and Robert Goodale as Seppings, a second butler drafted in to help play extra characters in Bertie’s narrative.
You see, Bertie, we’re told, has been encouraged by friends at his club to hire a theatre and tell one of the funny stories they enjoy so much, on stage. As usual he’s pretty clueless so Jeeves helps by building sets, introducing nifty bits of stage machinery and impersonating principal characters.
The actual story is rather lame, only likely to raise the occasional chuckle, and concerns toffs running around after an antique cream jug and a stolen policeman’s helmet. What makes it absolutely hilarious is the slapstick that the director has built around the impracticalities of staging the story with only 3 male actors. So Jeeves and Seppings have to quick change into a series of male and female costumes, often in lightning fast succession. For instance in the sublimely silly showdown Jeeves is playing a character who dives under the bed to hide just as he appears as another character at the bedroom door. The ineffectual Seppings is required to play a tall and threatening thug so he has to wheel a ridiculous contraption on and off to give him more height. Meanwhile Bertie has to keep the narrative going whilst getting confused and bemused by the revolving set and even finding the doors.
A major asset to the production is James Lance as Bertie. He is a complete delight even when being infuriatingly dim. He has a shy, cheeky smile that he flashes at the audience with devastating effect reducing us to helpless laughter. It’s the warmth of his personality that has us willing the show to go well for Bertie’s sake.
Robert Gooddale puts in a show stealing performance as the ineffectual, unctuous and seemingly clapped out old butler, Seddings. It’s a delight when he assumes the role of Bertie’s gorgon of an aunt, in contrast striding purposely around and bellowing threats and commands.
John Gordon Sinclair is fine as Jeeves and gets through all the gags efficiently but currently is a little too straight laced, although, of course, Jeeves is a famously impassive character. I just wanted to see glimpses that the actor is having fun underneath the poker face. It was very warm on the night I saw it and you were a little too aware of how hard he was having to work in the heat but I once acted in a TV sitcom with Gordon Sinclair, he’s a very skilled comic actor and I don’t doubt that by now he’ll be taking it in his stride.
Whether you’re a Wodehouse fan or it’s all new to you I guarantee you a great night of witty dialogue, charming performances and clever, clever staging. It’s been a while since I’ve sat in an audience all rocking with laughter.
I went to review LET IT BE, returning to the West End at the Garrick Theatre for a summer residency, with very low expectations. Although it’s been so popular that this is its third London run it opened a few years ago to stinking reviews from every serious critic.