ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

THE LADYKILLERS by Graham Linehan Director Tony Turner Knutsford Little Theatre

Almost everyone knows the film, if you don’t shame on you, it is a classic of British cinemas, and is much loved and a firm favourite of mine. Action is set in the post war world in Mrs Wilberforce’s bomb damaged house next to King Cross station. The set was a cross-section of two floors of the house; creating many challenges for the

designer: the effect created as the passing trains rattle pictures, the set dressings, and the demise of each of the villains via the window. All worked well until the need to use the window for the criminals’ final exits which was all a little too cumbersome. The lighting was effective, and the sound made sure the actors could be heard as they moved around the house. All the FX’s were on cue, especially the passing trains for the bodies to fall onto the goods wagons. Costumes were an extension of the character making the right statement but maybe not all quite historically correct. The lights went up on Constable McDonald having a cosy chat over a

cup of tea with Mrs Wilberforce as he tried to put the eccentric householder’s mind at ease after misreading a situation. Paul Baston, as McDonald, convincingly pacified the sweet old lady. Mrs Wilberforce’s room is let to Professor Marcus who wishes to use the room for his bogus musician friends to rehearse; in truth they are planning a robbery.