The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers has returned to London and so it should.
If you are familiar with the Ealing Studios Comedies then you will be familiar with this brilliant black comedy starring Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers about a group of con men who hire a room in a little old lady’s house and impersonate musicians whilst actually planning to rob a bank!
This story has been adapted for stage by Graham Linehan of Father Ted and The IT Crowd fame and has been done so with brilliant dexterity. Set entirely in the house with some extremely clever set design this is a dark comedy like no other. Some brilliant gags, some with much more subtlety so watch out, but all played out by some fantastic character actors that will be familiar to many.
The Professor (Guinness character in the film) is played by John Gordon Sinclair who may be remembered for the recent Marple, Murder in Mind, theatre credits include The Producers but will now be remembered for his extremely long scarf which causes much havoc in the play. Also accompanied by Simon Day from numerous comedy shows including the fast show, Ralf Little from The Royale Family amongst others and Angela Thorne as Mrs Wilberforce, fondly remembered by me for her role in To the Manor Born as Marjorie’s friend!
On stage we see a clumsy, wonky house that shakes every time the train to Newcastle goes by (plot device), and an ailing parrot hidden in a cage, lots of jokes about the Colonel! The house revolves to reveal a model railway, car chases and a roof top exterior and the interiors are all at angles which I can only imagine you have to really get your balance on when acting.
The group are nearly caught out on numerous occasions, they ‘practice’ in a room with a record player going, ready with their instruments they can’t play in case a knock on the door arrives, an impromptu concert is arranged with a bunch of old ladies who appear ready for anything and the group have to overcome each other’s hilarious foibles, all of which provide some brilliant timed gags throughout.
A genuinely funny show which will have you laugh out loud and amazed at the ingenuity of the set design!
I’m not sure how long it will be on for but a must in my book. Was really pleased to see this play!
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