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Ray Cooney’s hilarious doctors and nurses farce is good for the lungs




Ravensbury Players: It Runs in the Family at Ramsbury Memorial Hall, from November 16 to 18

Review by DEREK ANSELL

Ravensbury Players
Ravensbury Players

One of the great purveyors of theatrical farce, Ray Cooney's comedies never fail to produce howls of laughter. This play was no exception as it was performed by Ravensbury Players.

In fact, so amused was one audience member that his roars of laughter sounded as if his lungs had been turbo charged. It was of course, typical Cooney slapstick changed only from a Westminster Government theme to a doctors and nurses escapade.

Ravensbury Players
Ravensbury Players

John Barker had the main role as Dr Mortimore and he did well as a conniving, cheating doctor trying to shift the responsibility for an early indiscretion onto his colleague, Doctor Bonney. David Mayer as Bonney, certainly impressed with his comic ability and timing. At one point he attempts to cover up shouts and screams by bursting into unlikely song. So, somebody screaming backstage prompts him to sing the opening lyrics to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. 'I do enjoy a bit of Cliff Richard,' Dr Mortimore exclaims.

Briefly, the plot concerns Mortimore's indiscretion 20 years earlier with Jane Tate, a nurse played by Bridget Walker. That indiscretion is now called Leslie and he is down in the hall demanding to see his father. Joe Greenway, complete with huge wig and some punkish clothing brought this character to life.

About to make an important speech, Mortimore does not wish to engage with his long- lost son. So, Dr Bonney must pretend to be Daddy .Oliver Lang, Dawn Gill, Gaye Adolph, Helen Lloyd and the entire cast gave impressive performances in this very funny farce.

Ravensbury Players, John Barker and Bridgette Walker
Ravensbury Players, John Barker and Bridgette Walker

The comic acting was well played by everybody in the cast and their positioning and stage movement was spot on. The secret of good comedy may be – long pause – timing.

The secret of good farce is no pause, constant movement.

Ravensbury Players knew the secret.

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