Jeeves & Wooster in The Perfect Nonsense @ Leeds Grand Theatre

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The Goodale brothers’ adaptation of PG Wodehouse’s The Codes of the Woosters is a fun, fluffy affair, just what the doctor ordered after my recent absolutely harrowing theatrical experience at Avocado at West Yorkshire Playhouse and earlier in the week the intensely moving stage version The King’s Speech. Sean Foley’s direction plays on the strength of the cast’s comedic talents including Jason Thorpe (Little Dorrit) as Jeeves, Robert Webb (Peep Show) as Bertie Wooster and Christopher Ryan (Mike from The Young Ones) as Seppings.

Thorpe also does some gender bending with his roles as Stephanie Bing and Madeleine Bassett quite hilariously. While, not to be outmatched, Ryan cross-dresses as the scheming Aunt Dahlia as well as playing Roderick Spoke, a giant dictator with a sideline saucy secret as a designer of ladies’ lingerie. The pair display great versatility in capturing their characters in a potty plot (which is admittedly wafer-thin and over-complicated). And the numerous gaffs that would be the kiss of death in serious theatre are embraced here to be part and parcel of the joviality. Off-the-cuff remarks are plentiful, building up an engaging rapport with the audience without any demand of direct interaction.

The ensemble performs with split-second comic timing and there is some simply hilarious slapstick and physical comedy. Alice Power’s movable set on a turntable is used to produce comic delight and the costumes conjure up all the pomposity of the English upper classes in the 1930s. If you enjoyed the TV adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry this will tickle your fancy with equally irreverent cheek. If you are new to Wodehouse’s quintessentially English charm and wonderful wit then this is a great introduction to the master’s madcap maniacal style, delivered with vibrant energy and full of farcical fun.

Runs at Leeds Grand Theatre from 1 to 6 June

And touring http://www.jeevesandwoosterplay.com/2015-tour-part-1/

Review: Rich Jevons

Photos: Hugo Glendinning