Reviews

The full house forgot the unseasonable weather and showed their appreciation by not only laughing but clapping the best bits in this Jill Freud Theatre Company production. 

One For The Pot was written by Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton and was originally performed in 1961 at the Whitehall Theatre with the inimitable Brian Rix playing Hickory Wood.

The plot, like all farces, is simple. Jonathan Hardcastle wishes to give £10,000 to Billy Hickory Wood (the son of his late partner), but only if he has no living relatives. Billy and his boss, Charlie Barnett, arrive the night of a party for Jonathan's daughter Cynthia.

Jugg

But Billy has two more brothers who were brought up in different parts of the country and they also arrive the same evening. Naturally there are some sub plots and romances to be sorted out during the course of the evening as well.

Chaos ensues as Charlie, ably assisted for a cash reward by Jugg the family butler, tries to make sure that only one brother is seen by the family at any one time.

Nigel Pilkington was superb as Hickory Wood, a performance that meant he was leaving stage right only to appear again almost immediately stage left as another of the brothers. This involved changes of clothes and accents. Billy has a north country accent whereas Rupert has an upper class southern one and when the third brother arrives he has to adopt an Irish accent as well. Not once did he mix up the characters as he changed from one to another in quick succession.

One of the highlights was a wonderfully over the top tango performed by Hickory Wood and Cynthia Hardcastle, which was superbly choreagraphed by Sidi Scott.

But Clive Flint's performance as Charlie Barnett was equally superb with the timing of a born comedian. The same goes for Jonathan Ashley as the butler Jugg.

Charlie, Clifton and Cynthia

Patience Tomlinson, Kate Middleton, Gerry Hinks, Jonathan Jones, Armen Gregory, Beverley Denim and Jamie Pullen were excellent in the supporting roles. 

Timing is everything in a farce and the cast effortlessly delivered a superb evenings entertainment.

The director Richard Frost and his behind the scenes team brought the best out of the cast. Maurice Rubens' set design and Richard Handscombe's costumes brilliantly evoked the early 1960s country house and its residents. Robin Shephard-Blandy's lighting was superb and perfectly complemented the set. 

Suffolk is blessed to have such a talented and professional company performing in both Southwold and Aldeburgh each summer.

It's a fast moving and rip-roaring farce that I can highly recommend. The play continues at Southwold until Saturday 25 August and if you can get a seat you should snap them up. You will not be disappointed if you do.

One For The Pot is followed by Private Lives and Climbing The Wall. For Summer Theatre box office information click on the Suffolk Summer Theatres link on the right>