at New Theatre Cardiff
This colourful stage adaptation of the classic Ealing crime comedy – hailed as one of the greatest British films of all time – is comedy gold.
And you don’t need to have seen the film to enjoy the story of Henry Holland, an unassuming bowler-hatted bank clerk who plots to steal the van full of gold bullion he protects as its driven across London daily.
In fact, it might be best you don’t compare it to the film too closely at all. Radio 4 and Mock the Week favourite Miles Jupp plays the role of Holland (made famous by Alec Guinness) in his own way, with less of the smirking subtlety of Guinness and more of the rambunctious robber with a lust for life.
The story begins in Rio, where Holland is holding court at New Year’s Eve with his pals, plus ‘film director’ Farrow (Guy Burgess) waiting to take him out of Rio on a flight.
Before he goes, though, Holland wants the chance to tell his story as it happened. Just how he and Pendlebury (Justine Edwards) managed to steal the bullion and turn it into Eiffel Tower paperweights that were shipped out to Paris where the gold could be sold safely.
Cue much hilarity as each of Holland’s friends decides what roles to play in the retelling of the heist that had all the hallmarks of a disaster before it started.
Hats off have to go to Tessa Churhcard and Victoria Blunt who show their comedic versatility throughout – whether playing cockney villains with gruff swagger, or French seagulls with sensuality!
All the cast are excellent as they re-enact scenes on the London tube, or in French taxis with nothing but their bodies as props, moving back and fore in unison, using silver trays as steering wheels. And the simple ploy of spotlighting the stage with a golden glow (and corresponding gasps from the actors) whenever liquid gold appears never fails to elicit a laugh.
Act One is over in record time and the pace really rises in Act Two – thanks to some madcap dashes and mayhem as the gold Eiffel towers are wrongly sold (at a snip) to a group of schoolgirls – and the chase is on to get them back.
There are some chuckle-out-loud moments in this play. But for most of the time, this is a cosy type of comedy that will make you smile throughout, warm your heart and may even leave you with a golden glow inside. Well worth braving the rain out there to see it!
It’s on at the New Theatre Cardiff until 5th November