Review
The Ladykillers - REVIEW

The Ladykillers

Malvern Theatres

As Malvern Festival Theatre’s autumn showcase of fantastic productions comes to a close, it seemed a tall order to match last week’s sell-out performance of The Mousetrap and yet they did better than match it, they smashed it, saving the best until last! The Ladykillers is magnificent, hilarious, stunning, wonderful…simply awesome!

A strikingly, awe-inspiring set, the genius of Michael Taylor, full of surprises right to the final curtain, provides the perfect environment for the shenanigans of an ill-fated collection of crooks as they concoct a scheme to undertake a grand robbery.

Disguised as musicians, they end up unavoidably embroiled in the life of their delightful landlady with unexpected, deadly consequences.

The gifted Graham Linehan must be congratulated on taking this Ealing comedy classic and scripting such a superb stage show.

An incredible cast of great theatrical talent perfectly bring director, Sean Foley’s creative vision to life. His staging and impressive physical comedy is beautifully executed with shocking hilarity.

The actors ooze with talent from every pore and all equally revel in their respective roles, with Michele Dotrice as the doddery, old landlady, Mrs Wilberforce, Paul Bown’s Professor Marcus, the brains of the bunch, Clive Mantle as curious Major Courtney, William Troughton’s pill-popping Harry Robinson, Chris McCalphy as the not-so-clever, One-Round and Shaun Williamson’s moody ganster, Louise Harvey.

Marcus Taylor and Beverley Walding present a couple of delightful cameos ably supported by aspiring actors from the local community who made up a giggling, gaggle of geriatrics.

The Ladykillers is gob-smackingly brilliant and one you must absolutely go and see!

Rob Holcroft

Regional entertainment »