Published: Monday, 11th May, 2009 12:30pm

Theatre this week

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Theatregoers often need to look beyond the title to discover the author's objective and this was certainly the case with Woodley Theatre's production of Lee Hall's first play set in Newcastle-upon-Tyne concerning Jimmy Spud (delightfully portrayed by Jordan Bovell) who doesn't enjoy normal boyhood pursuits. Instead he wants to be an angel - but first he must serve an apprenticeship overseen by the Archangel Gabriel (David Parsonson). There were good supporting characterisations from John Goodman (his sickly Dad), Heidi Ashton (Mum), Jim McClure (Granddad) and Neil Oxley (who doubled as a schoolmaster and a barman). Special credit goes to Adam Albin who took over the role of Scout at very short notice.

Simon Williams' comedy, performed to perfection on yet another superb Wokingham Theatre set, had us rolling in the aisles with laughter. Shy, divorced Leonard (Steve Hall), an aspiring author whose forte is writing lurid fiction aimed at the female market under the pseudonym Myrtle Banbury, finds himself attracted to the voice of his down-to-earth publisher Harriet (Penny Dixon). Things start to go wrong when Harriet needs to interview Myrtle, forcing Leonard to appear in drag whilst his daughter Dee Dee (Katrina Barnes) and father Gus (Brian Kettlewell) find the situation a means of adding to their personal finances as they become more and more involved in the deception. Director David Edwards ensured the pace of the play bubbled merrily along to the hilarious final scene.

Shinfield Players chose the rollicking Heather Brothers' adaptation of a restoration comedy as their final musical production of the season - and what an excellent choice it was! The adventures of libertine Horner (Alex Aucken) occasioned gales of laughter as, aided and abetted by Quack the doctor (Tim Beaven), he charmed and seduced his way into the hearts and boudoirs of society ladies by persuading their cuckolded husbands he was a eunuch! However, whilst Horner really fancied Margery Pinchwife (beautifully portrayed by Caroline Kennedy), to avoid further trouble, he finally had to share his favours with the other ladies too. Hilarious characterisations complemented the clever double entendres scattered throughout the piece.

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