{"id":229,"date":"2015-01-24T16:57:28","date_gmt":"2015-01-24T16:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cpwp.comptonplayers.co.uk\/?page_id=229"},"modified":"2016-06-15T14:35:28","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T13:35:28","slug":"allo-allo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/?page_id=229","title":{"rendered":"Allo Allo"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft<\/span><\/p>\n

10th – 13th April 2002<\/h2>\n

Based on the hugely popular TV comedy series, the stage version of \u2019Allo \u2019Allo<\/strong> follows the adventures of Ren\u00e9, the hapless cafe owner in war-torn occupied France, as he and his wife, Edith, struggle to keep for themselves a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis and kept in a sausage in their cellar. Ren\u00e9 is not only hiding a portrait but two British airmen and is endeavouring, with the help of the Resistance, to repatriate them. However, communications with London being via a wireless designed as a cockatoo add to many of the embarrassments he has to face. Further complications arise when it is announced that the Fuhrer is to visit the town! Can Ren\u00e9 save his caf\u00e9 and his life? Now that is the question!<\/p>\n

\"allo<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Cast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ren\u00e9 Fran\u00e7ois Artois, Proprietor, Caf\u00e9 Ren\u00e9: Robertson Bell
\nEdith Melba Artois, wife of Ren\u00e9: Sheila Benton-Jones
\nYvette Carte-Blanche, Serving girl: Brenda Prior
\nRoger Leclerc, Forger: Peter Whitworth
\nMichelle Dubois, Maquise: Louise Edwards
\nMimi Labonq, Serving girl: Jasmine Gartshore
\nOfficer Crabtree, Gendarme: Mark Bailey
\nColonel Kurt von Strohm, Stadtskommandant: Nick Roberts
\nCapitano Alberto Bertorelli, Fuerze d\u2019Italia: Philip Prior
\nHerr Otto Flick, Gestaatspolizeioffizer: Paul Shave
\nPrivate Helga Geerhart, Stedskommandssekretariat: Tracey Pearce
\nLieutnant Hubert Gruber, Panzerdivizionsoffizier: Michael Sheperia
\nGeneral Ludwig von Schmelling, Regionskommandant: Stuart Peterson
\nFlying Officer Carstairs, British airman: Sam Langley
\nFlying Officer Fairfax, British airman: Robin Hawkins
\nSoldier, Wehrmachtssoldat: Nick Ghailin
\nPeasant Girls: Becky Palmer \/ Natalie Smith \/ Jade Chalfont
\nPeasant Man: Tim Roberts
\nLondon Calling (Radio Voice): Ben Langley
\nCinema Narrator: Hani Inglick<\/p>\n

Produced by Ian Hickling\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Newbury Weekly News review<\/h3>\n
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Ooh La La! Such Goings on!<\/h2>\n

“Listen carefully, I shall say zis only once.” Yes it was all there. “You stupid woman!” from Ren\u00e9, cries of “Ren\u00e9!”, from Yvette and, of course, ‘The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies’ by Van Clomp. It is difficult to recreate a TV show on stage – we have pictures in our minds of the original actors, but we know what to expect and perhaps it’s precisely that which brings us delight. The stage play is based on the long-running sitcom by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft; the plot is wildly complicated, but the premise is quite simple, the Resistance want Ren\u00e9 to help them to repatriate escaped British airmen, while Ren\u00e9 wants to avoid being shot by the Germans!<\/p>\n

The large cast list must have taxed the membership of the players, but it was encouraging to see several members making their stage debut. Skilfully holding the piece together with style and humour was Robertson Bell as Ren\u00e9 Artois, the caf\u00e9 proprietor. Sheila Benton-Jones as Edith was in perfectly awful voice, and Brenda Prior as Yvette, and Jasmine Gartshore as Mimi were deliciously lusty. Louise Edwards as Michelle from the Resistance and Mark Bailey as Officer Crabtree gave strong performances and there was a nice cameo from Peter Whitworth – “It is I, Leclerc!”<\/p>\n

Then to the Germans: Nick Roberts was in good form as Colonel von Strohm, Paul Shave was sinister and hilarious as the Gestapo’s Herr Flick, and Michael Sheperia was excellently camp as Lieutenant Gruber. Stuart Peterson was outstanding as Colonel Ludwig Von Schmelling and Tracey Pearce as Private Helga Geerhart was spot on as “the girl who makes officers salute and privates stand to attention”.<\/p>\n

Not forgetting a great comedic performance from Phillip Prior as Capitano Bertorelli, and the rest of the supporting cast.\u2028\u2028The uniforms and costumes were excellent and the set effective, although setting the caf\u00e9 Area on the flat made it hard to see at times. It was a difficult genre to tackle, and sometimes the pace was a little slow, but nonetheless this was a spirited attempt by director Ian Hickling and the Compton Players, highly enjoyable, and all in all they pulled it off.<\/p>\n

TREVOR DOBSON\n<\/p><\/div>\n