Don’t Dress For Dinner

Farce was once the mainstay of popular theatre but, like most things, it was sidelined by more deep and intense, navel gazing, drama. Fortunately, Community Theatre recognised its entertainment value, and some of the best farces of the late 20^th century grace the stages of our amateur theatres on a regular basis.

Heidelberg Theatre Company has a gem of a director in Chris Mclean, and he, in turn, has mounted a gem of a production in Marc Camoletti’s Don’t Dress For Dinner.

Camoletti is best known for his long running play and subsequent feature Boeing Boeing. Don’t Dress For Dinner is a little naughtier, and even more convoluted in its plot, but it is extremely funny, and Chris Mclean gives us a veritable feast of hilarity. Set in France, it’s the sort of play the French excel at (though it did run for six years in London in the early 90s). Mclean has embraced the French sensibility and played it to perfection.

Bernard (Justin Stephens) and Jacqueline (Cat Jardine) are married but, unbeknowns to each other they each have a lover – and Jacquie’s just happens to be Bernard’s best friend Robert (Mark Briggs). Then there’s Bernard’s lover Suzanne (Eleni Miller) who somehow gets mistaken for Suzette (Rhiannon Leach) a chef from a catering company – who also happens to be married to the jealous George (Gavin Baker). While Suzette poses as Suzanne, pretending to be Robert’s girlfriend rather than Bernard’s, Jacquie is jealous, not of her husband, but of her lover Robert for “cheating on her. There’s a lot of mix-up between bedrooms in the old farmhouse which were once the Cow-shed and the Pigsty. You can see where this is going and the mayhem that ensues is beyond explanation. In any case, you won’t care, you’ll be laughing too hard.

Justin Stephens brings his usual style and aplomb to the caddish Bernard. He’s an actor of strong presence and appeal, and enough charm to prevent us from despising the sleazy Bernard. Mark Briggs…still a relative newcomer…is a triumph as the slightly doltish but horny Robert. His timing is perfection, his presence is endearing, and his comedy business is simply hilarious, with every expression worth a thousand words. Cat Jardine is a welcome addition to any Community production and here she is in her element. With a strong talent for physical comedy, she’s the perfect foil between the two men. Rhiannon Leach (Stephen’s real-life wife) is sexy, gorgeous and witty as Suzie the cook – though it does take her a while to settle in to her accent; and Eleni Miller, as Bernard’s mistress, is fine as the object of much of the confusion. Gavin Baker has little to do in his cameo role, but he does it with conviction and is entirely credible. But it’s the combination of Briggs, Stephens and McLean that steals the night. McLean has created comic shtick I have never seen before and it’s beautifully executed by the two actors, as well as their female counterparts. McLean also designed the superb set, as well as the programme and the poster. Deryk Hartwick’s lighting design is a treat, as is George Bissett’s sound. All in all, this is a production of overall excellence and the perfect holiday fare to end a highly successful season.

The standard is always high at HTC. It’s satisfying to see such a successful Community Theatre, and 2016 kicks off with another farce – Moonlight and Magnolias, so there are plenty more laughs in store.

Coral Drouyn