“Lord Arthur Savile’s Crimes” by The Bonington Players
Bonington Theatre, Arnold

This play started off as a short story, written by Oscar Wilde back in 1891. In 1952 Constance Cox adapted the story and has been a regular theatre piece ever since. Anyone, like myself who likes a bit of Wildean wit, will wilfully wallow in this wickedly wonderful comedy.

The plot involves the hapless Lord Arthur, who is due to marry the lovely Sybil Merton. However Sybil’s mother, Lady Julia, doesn't trust Arthur and insists that he has his palm read by society palm reader Mr Podgers.

Unknown to Lady Julia, Mr Podgers tells Arthur that his palm reading reveals he must commit a murder. Arthur, aided and abetted by his faithful butler, Baines, decides to kill off one of his lovely elderly relatives, but all does not go quite to plan……

Jonathan Greaves plays Baines, the butler with a wonderfully restrained reserve, always there to assist his master in all that he does.

Kevin Chatten has brilliant comedy timing and characterisation as Savile and as soon as I knew that Kev was playing Lord Arthur, I knew straight away what a cracking job he would make of it. And I was right.

Helen Holbrook, played Sybil, and presented the perfect Wildean young woman, sure of herself and her place in the society she lives in.

Jeff Casterton, The Dean of Paddington, almost clocked it, but managed to escape Savile's plot.

Julia Walters, stepped into the breach at the last minute as Lady Windermere and did a great job. She had some wonderfully acerbic retorts.

Val Petty, Lady Clementina Beauchamp, was wonderfully winsome and her delivery of lines was smooth and easy making her a joy to watch.

Lindsey Parr always delivers and as the acid tongued Lady Julia Merton, she brought to life Wilde's wonderful bitter woman script with enough icy looks to turn the on stage drinks into ice lollies.

Christian King plays the posh palm reader, Podger, but all may not be as perfect as first appears with this well known society palm predictor. Cool Christan keeps a perfect poker face.

The house maid, Nellie, is played by Abbigail Byrne, and I am sure that I have seen this lovely young lady before somewhere. Her down to earth acting, I can only imagine, is not unlike herself, down to earth and entertaining. A comfortable actor to watch.

And finally, one of the big comedy characters in the play, Herr Winkelkopf, played by Chris Gardner. Loved the accent and the zaniness. One of Wilde's nutty professors. Brilliantly entertaining.

Having not seen this play before, even though I am a fan of Wilde's work, this is like watching a new episode of one of your favourite sit coms. You recognise the characters and traits and this immediately breaks down any getting to know the characters which leaves you more time to start to enjoy the actors and the script

The Bonington Players are a great bunch of actors and always put on incredibly entertaining plays, and this is just another to add to their long list of successes.

“Lord Arthur Savile’s Crimes” is at The Bonington Theatre until Saturday 20 October 2018. Do not miss it if you love great classic comedy.