Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em by Guy Unsworth. Barn Theatre, Cirencester to 17 August 2024.

5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: Cormac Richards.

“This production is brilliant.”

As an astonishingly popular TV series of the 1970s, it took until 2018 for a stage version to hit the stage – with great success – it starred Joe Pasquale as the hapless character Frank Spencer, the role created on screen by Michael Crawford.

The delightful Barn Theatre in Cirencester has really made its mark since opening in 2018 with a string of headline-grabbing productions, this revival of ‘Some Mothers…’ is another feather in their cap.

The audience is greeted with a soundscape of period songs such as ‘I’ve Got A Brand New Pair of Roller Skates’ and ‘Disco Inferno’ along with a set design firmly born of the 1960s/70s; you know exactly what era you are in. For those of a certain age, the opening of the play with the original theme music brings with it a headrush of nostalgia.

When Frank comes home to tell his wife, Betty, the news of his latest job, she too has some important news to share, but cannot get a word in edgeways. One thing leads to another, and eventually she can tell him she is pregnant, but not before visits from Betty’s Mother, her friend, the BBC and the police. Multiple misunderstandings, chaos, explosions and magic all occur before the final curtain.

Guy Unsworth’s marvellous script is a really affectionate tribute to the original, written by Raymond Allen; nothing jars. Unsworth completely understands where the success of the TV series was and builds a smart plot around it which works like a dream; it is, as it was, aimed at the whole family.

The tiny stage at The Barn houses a tremendous set; with cut away walls and ceilings, staircase, living room, kitchen; it is a design feat of great skill from Alfie Heywood. Technically, this play has everything, not just lighting and sound effects, but collapsing furniture, loose stair bannisters, burst water pipes and similar, plus a stunt co-ordinator is required – you need to see the play to know why – it is a wonder to behold. Huge praise to the backstage team for creating and executing all the visuals which are so much part of the comedy.

As Frank, Sam Denia, is, quite simply, superb. Yes, there are definite shades of Crawford’s performance, but this is no slavish impersonation. The sheer complexity of the role demands pinpoint accuracy in action and line delivery and Denia delivers, he is so skilled and does not stop throughout. This is the gold standard of comedy acting. At the heart of the show is a love story. How does Betty cope with her accident-prone husband and all that he leaves in his wake? The enormously talented Laura Anna-Mead perfectly captures the simmering worry about Frank and her own frustrations, but also her love for him; the two actors connect so well that there is depth and emotion here which is unutterably tender and tear-jerking – spot on casting.

One of the joys of the production is that the supporting cast get to have enormous fun too. Derek Elroy brings a certain charm to the role of Father O’Hara, as well as great timing; Julie Teal appears to have a field day as Betty’s Mother, Barbara, her downwards spiral from the effects of prune wine is brilliant; likewise Steven Wren’s two roles give him multiple opportunities to add to the laughs and he hits the mark every time; Georgia Leila Stoller, in two smaller parts, still has the chance to add to the hilarity. It is a really good line-up of actors who navigate the lack of space and multiple props with aplomb. Oh and the routine on the staircase is pure comic gold.

Director Joseph O’Malley has a triumph on his hands; he has crafted a production which allows the audience to erase anything else from the minds and just offers two hours of  complete and utter joy. The build-up to the final chaos filled ending of Act One and the end of the play itself - which almost lapses into the surreal - are so well created, the audience don’t know where to look, so much is going on and they are laughing so much.

It would be wonderful to see this production have a life elsewhere so that it can be enjoyed by many others. I saw the 2018 production on the large stage at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, I loved it then, I love this production too – it is as funny and touching a show as you could want to see and I would urge people to forget the cares of the world and indulge in the best piece of comic acting I can remember seeing for a long time – Sam Denia is a revelation and this production is brilliant.

Cast

Frank Spencer – Sam Denia

Betty Spencer – Laura Anna-Mead

Barbara Fisher – Julie Teal

Father O’Hara – Derek Elroy

Mr Worthington/Mr Luscombe – Steven Wren

Leslie/Constable – Georgia Leila Stoller

Creatives

Writer – Guy Unsworth

Director – Joseph O’Malley

Assistant Director – Amelia Calvert

Set & Costume Designer – Alfie Heywood

Composer & Sound Designer – Sam Glossop

Lighting Designer – Adam Foley

Stunt Co-ordinator – Annie MacKenzie