"The Ladykillers" by Graham Linehan.

Ravenshead Theatre Group.

Ravenshead Village Hall.

There are certain comedies that I never tire of watching, especially when they are done as good as this one. I can remember, somewhere in the mists of time, sitting on the settee when I was a toddler, watching the film version with Mum and Dad - obviously quite a few years after the film was originally released in 1955. Since then I have seen the play version on several occasions, enjoying the silly comedy that the story brings with it.

The classic Ealing comedy is about a group of bank robbers who hire a room at Mrs Wilberforce’s home to plot a robbery under the guise of a quintet of classical musicians. They cover up their plotting with a recording of Boccherini’s “Minuet” giving Mrs Wilberforce the idea that she has a group of talented musicians in her midst.

This also gives her an idea to utilise their skills to entertain her group of ladies for an afternoon of cultural music. There’s only one thing wrong; these musicians can’t play a note.

Throw into this mix General Gordon, a talking parrot, and Mrs Wilberforce’s regular contacts with the local police force, which works in Mrs Wilberforce's favour to turn the tables on the villains, and this band of robbers may just have bitten off more than they can chew.

Mrs Wilberforce is played by Karen Hall. I really didn't recognise Karen due to an excellent wig, make up and costume disguise, completely changing Karen's appearance. That, and along with the physicality of an elderly lady, created the image of a fragile pensioner, but one who was still as sharp as a pin.

Constable MacDonald is played by Hazel O'Connell. We learn from MacDonald that Mrs Wilberforce has a bit of a history of having an active imagination, especially when contacting the police. It's what we learn at the top of the play that makes quite clear about what we see at the end of the play, which also creates a different impression of Mrs Wilberforce.

Professor Marcus is played by Daniel Andrews. Another brilliant image make over with Daniel as without his facial hair, he looks completely different, almost student-like. What also made him look different was the fact that he wore a false top set of teeth which also made him speak slightly different as well as gave his face a different look. If you can remember the vicar in the old Dick Emery TV shows, that is who he reminded me of, apart from not having Emery's grey hair. The scarf that the Professor wore would have made Tom Baker's Dr Who insanely jealous due to the great length the scarf stretched to. That is an important part of the play though, as anyone who has seen this play before will know. 

One Round is played by Rob Hurst. Here is another completely different role for Rob - that is one thing that you can say for Rob, his stage characters are so varied. One Round is one of those characters who is one picnic short of a sandwich and Rob's vocal characterisation is spot on, providing much of the comedy.

Major Courtney is played by John Birch. Lovely back story which includes his appreciation of female attire!

Louis, a Romanian hoodlum, is played by James Disney. Moody and menacing but I didn't quite get the Romanian accent; that aside you would not want to meet Louis in a dark alley, in fact anywhere dark!

Harry, the youngest member of quintet, is played by Eddie Gray. Nice accent and a nice happy go lucky characterisation giving this villain quite a pleasant persona, or is those little multi coloured pills that keep him happy... most of the time at least!

Mrs Tromleyton, Mrs Wilberforce's close friend from the ladies' circle, is played by Helen Berry. Along with Mandy Buckley, Ann-Marie Butler and Karen Swallow as other members of the Ladies Circle who are invited along to the "concert" performed by the "musicians". A quartet of quintessential, quaint old ladies who deem the concert with a difference a success, congratulating Mrs Wilberforce on her forward-thinking musical choice of entertainment.

Directed by Andy Cook. All the elements, plus a few other little additions, are included in this production, making the play an unqualified, gigglesome success. Only one area I would make an amendment to and that is the changing of the scenes might have looked better if there had been a total blackout on stage or the curtains closed for the duration of the re-setting of the scenes, as I have seen done in previous Ravenshead shows. 

Andy is also responsible for the design of the set, which looked great. the stage was split into two sections, the main living room in the Wilberforce residence, and then the smaller space for the room rented by the Professor where all the planning took place. This is also an important space as it also provides an additional, and vital, exit point. there's an almost cartoonish image with the main room decoration which added to the overall comic feel of the play.

Costumes are thanks to the cast members, which makes me wonder why Hazel O'Connell has a policewoman's uniform to hand, or is that one of the costume projects that Lin Baggerley was gifted! Brilliant costumes for all the characters.

Sound is by Zac Thrall. All sound effect cues were spot on, and I loved the choice of music in the interval, and prior to the show start, and keeping in with the Boccherini "Minuet" within the play, the music was all classical. That is one thing that I like about Ravenshead Theatre Group, they give a lot of thought into the music choices for the interval, choosing music that is in keeping with the play's themes.

Lighting is by Iain Walton, blocking off either one side of the stage or the other to highlight the area that requires the audience's focus of attention. The stage blackout for the scene re-sets is something I would have liked to see though.

Stage managed by Ann-Marie Butler with Stage Crew Helen Berry and Hazel O'Connell.

This show is a classic on the comedy play circuit. It's fast moving and it's funny. The characters all have different personalities which is another thing that makes this play such a fun watch.

"The Ladykillers" will be at Ravenshead Village Hall until Saturday 2 May.