"Nell Gwynn" by Riverside Drama Company.
Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

Described as a bawdy period comedy and it lived up to that description perfectly.

From the very start, which is a great way to start a play, but no spoilers from me here, right to the end, this is a delicious slice of period fun.

Nell (Jenni Wright) is a mere orange seller with a slick line in comeback for her hecklers, when she catches the eye of actor William Hart (Julian Franklin), who teaches her the art of acting, and needless to say, falls madly in love with her.

Jenni is great fun to watch and not only brings out the naughty side of the character but also the more serious side as we learn that she couldn't read but through her love of the stage and acting learnt how to combat it.

Nell becomes the talked about actress on the stage and quickly catches the eye of King Charles II (Dan Bates), and very soon she is smitten with him.

Dan adds another brilliant character role to his CV. Looking like Peter Bowles, he also adopts a wonderfully foppish voice and image for the King.

That's the basic story but there is a wonderful rich script woven within this story line, and a great cast to bring that humour to life.

The King's Company - the drama group - are a wonderful casting, Martin Holtom, James Billington - who by the way steals this for me with his withering looks and camp but luvvie characterisation, Mike Evans, Jon Franklin and Celia Billau. If this was a TV show, this lot would be worthy of a spin off series.

The non actor actors are Donna Osmond (Nell's sister), Rachel Bates (Nell's alcoholic brothel running mother), Lizzie Norris (Lady Castlemaine), Amy Cannon (Louise de Keroualle), Moya Magee (Queen Catherine), Keith Salway (Lord Arlington), Phil Whittaker (Servant to the King) and Bob Baron.

A brilliant cast collated by Director Liz Turner, who got the pace of this comedy spot on. Just one section at the end of Act two where there was an empty stage a wee bit longer than expected. I have a feeling that this was down to costume changes, of which there were many which were completed in a timely fashion.

Talking of costume changes, these costumes (Janet Whyatt and Diana Edwards with help from Mina Machin) were wonderful. in the words of John Barrowman "Faabulousss".

Dave Martin was in charge of the lights so we knew that these were in good hands, and they certainly were.

Joe Downing was the man with the sound and was mixed just right so as to not drown out the voices from the stage.

Oh yes and talking of the music. the original compositions in this play, which created a brilliant periodic atmosphere was the work of Liz Turner and arranged by Phillippa Byrne..

The set was split in two with minimal props to be moved, making the segue from one scene to the other effortless.

Choreographed by Jenni Wright, this was traditional and also fun to watch.

Another show that you get your money worth as it runs for two and three quarter hours with a fifteen minute interval, (which gives you time to have a look at the many other shows that the various other local theatre companies are presenting over the next year or so). It does not seem that long though, which is a sure sign of an entertaining, slick piece of theatre.

"Nell Gwynn" is at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 24 November 2018