Cover-ups rarely go according to plan, but in a scripted play they have to, right? Well not if they’re a farce!
As my introduction to the genre of farce, Out of Order lies somewhere between Shakespearean tragicomedy and traditional 1980’s British sitcom, presenting caricatures of the politicians we’ve become accustomed to seeing and hearing about in everyday politics today, but with a twist. Trouser-dropping, bare bottoms and skimpy underwear all seemed to be the norm, with laughter erupting both from what can be seen onstage as well as not seen, off-stage (ahem…Ronnie Worthington!)
Originally written and performed for a 90’s audience, Ray Cooney’s Out of Order has been adapted and revised for a modern-day audience, using a premise (philandering politician covering his tracks) that seems to have remained timeless over the past three decades.
Sprinkle references to Brexit, Corbyn, UKIP and Boris Johnson on top and it’s a rather average attempt at trying to engage a current audience – but who cares when there was laughter from the stalls anyway?
Set in the “Fawlty Towers-esque” Westminster Hotel in London, the farce, acted out by an all-star cast, tells the cat and mouse story of scandal, schmoozing and a chain of disastrous decision making, catalysed by the deceitful affair between a Tory Junior Minister, Mr Willey (Jeffrey Harmer) and Labour secretary Jayne (Susie Amy, Footballers’ Wives.)
Doesn’t sound too far-fetched right?
….That is until the hotel’s only defective window – in my eyes – a “character” worthy of its own applause (and it got one) – catapults the play into utter chaos with the discovery of a body.
A very creaky first-half relies a little too much on a misogynistic stereotype of Corbyn’s scantily dressed secretary running around on stage in skimpy underwear, while Mr Willey tries to negotiate the return of her dress from scruffy-tip-led waiter (James Holmes). Arguably, Susie Amy fit the brief perfectly (no pun intended) but with slight moments of overstated acting seemed to dilute the humour a little.
The irony of an unscripted door jam, mid-way through the first act oddly seemed to relax the cast and allowed George Pigden (Shaun Williamson, Eastenders’ Barry Evans) time to milk an opportunity for some improv which erupted a few additional giggles from the audience. As he comically attempted to fit through a tiny crack allowed by the onstage closet door, in a bid to keep to script, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was part of the act.
With a little patience in the first act though, as characters are established, the misery and discomfort of the majority of the characters, which unfolds in a much tighter second-half, means jokes flow more naturally (as natural as chaotic comedy can be), the cast begin to feel at home, more laughter erupts – and the jammed centre stage door gets fixed.
Shaun Williamson and Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses), who plays Mrs Willey stole key moments throughout the duration of the show, showcasing an impressive ability to act out the farce without the tendency to overstate and amplify to excess.
It was a pleasure to see the final leg of this UK tour of Out of Order in Nottingham. A superbly contrived barrage of messy moments pieced nicely together like the opening to a game of Jenga – it definitely crumpled like one in the middle, albeit intentionally, but key players definitely put it back together again!
Out of Order is showing until Saturday at the Theatre Royal. For more information and tickets go to www.trch.co.uk
Review by Nadya Jaworksyi
