“Caught In The Net” by Rumpus Theatre Company
Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield.

Ray Cooney’s classic farce and sequel to his “Run For Your Wife” is all about juggling! John Smith has been juggling his two lives, his two wives and his two families for a while. He’s managed to keep all his balls in the air for some time, until the internet threatens to bring those balls crashing down around his ears!

I love a good farce and having seen this Cooney classic before, I knew what fun an audience can have watching the confusion and panic that befalls John Smith in this play.And this cast, who I've seen on several occasions now absolutely enhance the comedy of Cooney's fabulously funny script.

Farce is all about timing, and doors, and there are seven doors to slam in this set. The timing is nailed by all, both physically and verbally, at times leaving you catching your breath at the rapidity of the delivery.

John Goodrum plays Smith and races around like a mad thing all the way through and his verbal dexterity is to be admired.

Susan Earnshaw (Mary Smith) and Susie Hawthorne (Barbara Smith) remain perfectly confused and oblivious of the other but when they all come face to face, there's a surprise for John!

Charlotte Chinn (Vicki Smith) and Chris Sheridan (Gavin Smith) play the kids, and you know what, it's not that often you get adult actors who can actually pass for their stage character age but both Chris and Charlotte actually look like teenagers. Not only that, their persona as teenagers is spot on. Lovely characterisations.

While John Smith is the main character in the play, for me George Telfer (Stanley Gardner) was the man. Gardner is John Smith's best friend and lodger and the character who steers this ship through the comedy seas. Not only has he got to deal with the two wives and John, plus keeping the siblings separate, he also has to deal with his confused father who has a problem differentiating between Felixstowe and Wimbledon.

“A Touch Of Frost”s john Lyons features as Gardner's Dad and, as usual, a joy to watch with that cheeky twinkle he has when not busy being confused. I'd like to think he's playing the family along with that sense of humour Daddy Gardner has.

Directed by Karen Henson and John Goodrum, the pace is break neck and the comedy comes thick and fast. The chemistry between all the actors on stage is evident, which is built up by the many years this lot have performed together.

An uncluttered set, thanks to John, Clive Goodlad and Pete Siddon, provides the many doors needed to create the comedy, even if it is behind locked doors. Providing the home setting for both Smith families, it could have caused confusion but it didn't.

The sound in the Pomegranate is crystal clear, both music wise and from the stage. You could hear every word uttered, thanks to David Gilbrook who was in charge of the sound.

This Cooney classic is as funny now as it was when it was first written and is at home in the modern setting as in any decade.

A wonderfully talented cast means that you will not be disappointed with this play. With the twist at the end, which even though I'd seen before, had forgotten the twist, this play will have you belly laughing, not just chuckling.

“Caught In The Net” is on until Saturday evening with a Saturday matinee at 3pm at The Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield.