Comedy confusion reigns supreme

THIS is one of those stage shows now running into the realms of cult status and with considerable justification.

A play within a play - it does just what it says on the label as anything that could go wrong… does meet with almost total disaster! Even the programme fails to escape from the mishaps that make this offering such a genuine delight.

Two plays', two casts make for confusion.

After all, we are watching the mismatched misfit Cornley team ‘performing’ Murder at Haversham Manor and the programme provides an alternative cast list and news of upcoming productions such as An Audience with: An Audience. This will see an audience take their seats and when the lights go down, and the curtain goes up, another audience will be revealed. But no host!

At least we did get a host. That was Benjamin McMahon's Cornley director Chris Bean, who also plays the clueless Inspector Carter in The Murder play, and he sets the level as Dennis for the farce that duly unfolds.

Gabriel Paul’s Trevor, the show’s lighting and sound engineer, had also warmed up the audience with his search for the production’s missing dog and his precious Duran Duran boxed set. Both roused plenty of laughter later on with the appearance of one, but not the other.

Timing is of the essence with any stage production, especially in trying to achieve the many preposterous problems that beset the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, and this is managed with spectacular success by a cast totally adept in convincing cock-ups!

An abject lesson in making things go wrong with great professionalism and such ease.

Knockabout fun and knockouts see some enforced doubling up, one of which produced memorable moments from Catherine Dryden (Annie) and Elena Valentine (Sandra). While a beaming Bobby Hirston’s Max struck up a considerable rapport with an audience which collectively enjoyed its participation in the proceedings. Oh yes they did!

Director Mike Bell keeps everything moving at a frantic but immensely watchable pace, including the incredible sloping study floor and scenery that crashes around the players.

Did the audience enjoy it? You can bet your bottom dollar - as revealed by a thunderous standing ovation at the conclusion of this glorious madcap mayhem.

A virtual sell-out every night it’s conclusive proof that audiences would be happy to see this fun-packed show more than once.