A Bedfull of Foreigners

Southwold Summer Theatre

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 13 July 2012

The summer theatre season in Southwold got off to a splendid, inspired and madcap start with Dave Freeman’s 1970s version of the farce genre.

This does exactly what it says on the tin – comic characters in ludicrous situations employing quick thinking that makes matters worse via some very funny lines. Oh yes, and enough trouser dropping to keep everybody laughing.

Anthony Falkingham directs, making the most of the space and entrances and achieving that sometimes elusive balance between the predictable and the new angle on old themes.

Terry Malloy, famed in The Archers and as Dr Who’s arch-enemy Davros, takes the lead.

Strong performances from Clive Flint, Iain Ridley, Sarah Ogley, Penelope Rawlins, Michael Shaw and Rosanna Miles ensure they all tumble through the crackingly-paced absurdities with high energy and manic hilarity.

The mistaken identities and confusions are heightened by the fact that everybody is a ‘foreigner’ in this story set in France. How they almost all end up in one of the pair of double beds is a clever but nonsensical contrivance of rollicking good fun that warms the heart, whatever the summer weather.