My Friend Miss Flint

They say there’s nothing more certain than death and taxes, yet in My Friend Miss Flint the tax man certainly arrives but death is foiled, because how can you plan the death of someone who doesn’t exist?

This is a rather dated English comedy. Nevertheless, in this production directed by Barry Hill, it remains enjoyable due to the competent writing of playwrights Donald Churchill and Peter Yeldham, together with a strong cast.

Tom Lambert is a TV gardening show personality. He’s a fine horticulturist but is completely hopeless when it comes to understanding the taxation system and his own financial affairs. When Tom’s accountant, who happens to be his ex-wife Sarah, confesses that for some time she’s been inventing a fictitious public relations consultant for him as an illegal tax deduction, it throws Tom into a spin. When he discovers ‘Miss Flint’ hasn’t been paying tax on the salary he’s purportedly ‘paid’ her and the tax man is after her, he needs to think fast. But the less than helpful advice of Sarah and others provides comical complications.

Peter Davies gives a very good performance as the confused and out-of-his-depth TV gardener Tom, while Shelley Hampton is excellent as Sarah, giving the accountant just the right mix of fiery frustration at Tom’s disinterest in his financial affairs and remorse for her own former deceptive and illegal actions.

Norman Caddick steals every scene he’s in as Tom’s twice-weekly help. He adds delightful nuances of character to his role as Albert, who loves to sneak any opportunity to drink Tom’s alcohol and who gives advice even though he is involved in his own shady tax practices.

Newcomer to the Adelaide theatre scene, Ellen Ferguson, has created quite a strong and amusing character in Lucy, but needs to be careful with enunciation. At times her delivery is rushed, making it difficult to understand what she is saying.

Heath Trebilcock, also a fairly inexperienced actor, does laudable and very controlled work with his character, the Inland Revenue man Mr Dodds. Sue Wylie, as Inspector CP Lens, is also very good. However, for both characters, and through no fault of the actors, things break down a little in their final scene together. I don’t want to give this part of the plot away; suffice to say the obvious miss-match of actors’ ages doesn’t ring quite true for their characters here.

Seated as we were in the centre of the auditorium on the night we attended, my guest and I found it difficult to hear the dialogue of a couple of actors at times, particularly when they faced upstage.

Barry Hill and Jeff Baker’s set design is very good. Hill’s direction ensures the actors make the most of the space, with consistently well-paced action.

My Friend Miss Flint may not be a memorable night of theatre, but it’s certainly an enjoyable one. Another commendable Therry production.

Lesley Reed

Images: Peter Davies (Tom) and Shelley Hampton (Sarah), Ellen Ferguson (Lucy) Peter Davies (Tom with Picasso) and Shelly Hampton (Sarah), & Heath Trebilcock (mr Dodds) and Peter Davies (Tom).