Photo: Scott Rylander
Theatre Royal St Helens welcomed Frank Spencer and his chaos to the town last night in ‘Some Mothers do ‘Ave ‘Em a popular comedy in the 1970s with Michael Crawford. The same Michael Crawford who was phantom. This stage show was written and directed by Guy Unsworth. The leading man playing Frank Spencer was the hugely funny Joe Pasquale who can cause a riot of laughter just by walking on stage. Frank is currently out of work and in between jobs or as he puts it, he’s in between his old one and waiting for a new one. He has just received a letter from the BBC to say he has a audition for a top talent competition and will be over shortly to film his magic act. His wife Betty played by Sarah Earnshaw, has news of her own but is finding it hard to tell Frank. Frank and Betty are having a dinner party where his mother-in-law played by Susie Blake brings over her partner Mr Worthington (Moray Treadwell) who is also a bank manager, which is where Frank has the genius Idea to take out a bank Loan to get him through in between jobs.
This show is utterly chaotic and hilariously funny with comedy moments and lines from the hit tv show used within the script. The setting is his house, and the layout was really innovative it will have you laughing one minute and gasping the next. True to form the show had some brilliant stunts that would shock you and make you gasp for air whilst laughing.
My only criticism for this show and there only minor is that some parts were predictable you sort of know when things went or were about to go wrong. But given the nature of the show you kind of expect that anyway if your familiar with the tv series. I also felt that some of the comedy pause breaks were just a tad too long. I believe that the piece could of worked as a 1 act show as opposed to taking a break but that’s just personal preference. It was nice seeing younger audiences watch this show and enjoy with their parents as they saw a piece of historic tv on stage who knows maybe they’ll go home and see the tv show.
The tour finishes next week so see it in St. Helens while you can. It runs until Saturday august 6th you won’t regret seeing it if anything you will probably want to see it more than once. https://www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com/show/873604537/
Reviewer: Luke Stephenson
Reviewed: 2nd March 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★
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