BILLED as an East End Music hall comedy, writers Ron Pember and Denis de Marne’s show is exactly that. Co-directors Bob Blake and Neil Thorpe have assembled an all-star cast and despite having recently performed the show at Cornwall’s iconic Minack Theatre, there was no sign of waning enthusiasm in this extremely lively, funny and (at times non-pc) entertaining production.
With David Tatnall playing a verbose Leonard Sachs-style Chairman and Steven Lilly as ‘geezer’ Dan Mendoza, both in fine form, it would take a special performance to top theirs – and Kerry Butcher did just that, as Marie, the Ripper’s number one target.
Butcher also choreographed the ensemble most impressively.
Nick Longland’s prime-suspect Montague Druitt, Mark Johnson’s funny vignettes and the hilarious Policemans’ Chorus were all features.
Mike Jolly’s excellent stage design, great costumes and a lively band, comprising (surprisingly) just Teddy Clements and George Storry, make this a real killer of a show.
Alan Johns
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