Plot leaves actors in the dark (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Plot leaves actors in the dark

2:23pm Thursday 26th June 2008

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Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer And The Bowmans by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson

If you want to forget that we're all doomed (according to the media anyway) the Watermill is the place to be, where two funny plays make for a good evening.

The first is a tribute to Tony Hancock, reprising one of his radio half hours.

A spoof on the Archers, The Bowmans has Tony Hancock (Will Barton) as a Walter-Gabriel character right down to the same well-known catch phrase.

Inevitably it all goes wrong as Hancock overacts and offends all other cast members, until they kill him off in desperation; and just as inevitably, he gets the last laugh when fans demand his return, and he exacts his glorious revenge.

Black Comedy lives up to its name with an extraordinary start (I couldn't possibly give the game away) and rapidly descends into hilarious chaos. The plot is unimportant - a young couple borrows all the furniture from the man across the landing and has to replace it when he returns unexpectedly.

But the execution of the preposterous premise that it's all done in the dark, is brilliantly done.

Greg Haiste as the hapless Brindsley is hugely energetic and very funny, teetering wildly on the brink as he tries to sort out furniture, fiancée (Ellie Beaven), her father (Robin Bowerman), old flame Clea (a droll Rachel Spence), the furnitured neighbour (Jamie Newall), and sundry other visitors.

Claire Vousden's uptight spinster Miss Furnival is a particular joy to watch as she discovers gin and gradually descends into singing drunkenness.

The two remain at the Watermill until July 5.

Pat Harper

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