"Ein Komisches Talent" or Comic Potential by Alan Ayckbourn.

Performed by Theater Die Käuze.

Lace Market Theatre, Nottingham.

Theater Die Käuze usually do plays for children, like stories from fairy tales, but occasionally do adult company shows like this one. The production is performed in German but. believe me, you don't need to be fluent in German to understand the thread of the story or the comedy.

The production is a romantic science fiction comedy play, set in a TV studio in the foreseeable future, when low-cost androids (known as aktroids) have largely replaced actors.

Idealistic young writer Adam Trainsmith meets Chandler Tate, a former director of classic comedies, who makes a living by directing a never-ending hospital soap opera. The leading-role android makes a series of mistakes. Supporting role android, JC-F31-333, spots his lapses and laughs. Now, androids are not supposed to have any kind of human emotions, and Adam sees it as being a real comic talent!

Later on, while Adam is watching old Buster Keaton slapstick comedy, JC-F31-333 laughs again. She is afraid that the sense of humour is a production fault. Adam sees it as an advantage. He nicknames his favourite android Jacie and persuades Chandler that they should make a comedy for her.

Regional TV director Carla Pepperbloom threatens to ruin the project. She is jealous of Adam's sympathy for talented Jacie and orders the android's memory wiped. Adam panics and decides to kidnap Jacie. While on the escape, Adam and Jacie fall in love.

As I have said, although the play is presented all in German, the physical comedy shines brightly and you soon recognise the characters in Ayckbourn's play. It's like watching a Chekhov play in Russian, seeing opera in Italian, or going to the ballet, you don't need to  understand every word because the story is understood through the drama and the actions, so do not let the fact that the play is performed in a different language deter you from seeing this brilliantly performed and humorous piece of Northern humour.

The immensely entertaining cast are as follows.....

Michael Kaupp (Adam Trainsmith - Autor)

Dennis Gollis (Chandler Tate - Regisseur - Reporter)

Siegfried Roth (Lester Trainsmith - Portier - Kellner - Reporter)

Jorg Bettinger (LMO 5623 Aktroid - Arzt - Bauer - Reporter)

Sven Weber (LJM 54823 Aktroid - Sohn - Zunhalter - Man In The Shop - Reporter)

Steffen Butz (Marmion - Keliner - Techniker)  

Aaliyah Klix (JCG31333 Jacie Aktroid - Krankenschwester)

Mira Laborgne/Julia Eberle (Trudi Floote - Technician - Woman In the Shop - Reporter)

Karin Krebs (Prim Springs - Programmiererin)

Larissa Kaufman-Nicolaus (Carla Pepperbloom - Studioleiterin)

Brigitte Schucker (CW 77502 Aktroid - Mutter - Verkauferin - Reporter - Nutte).

Directed by Tobias Jost who had the cast popping up from all directions, making use of the auditorium entrance as well as the entrance to the Green Room, as well as via the wings. Wonderfully paced and what may have caused Tobias a few issues was the fact that the cast only arrived in Nottingham yesterday after a fourteen hour trip to block the play in the theatre itself. Not that any issues at all came to light tonight as it ran as smooth as Der Babypopo.

Assistant to Tobias is Anastasia Schieicher.

Stage design is by Marie Herrndorff, and here is another clever use of cast and space. The set starts off as a white backdrop in the centre of the stage and a "hospital bed"; as the play progresses various other props are brought on and removed by the cast after a total blackout which then fades to a dim light where members of the cast jerk robotically across the stage and into position after placing set props into place.

The Costumes are really interesting with plenty of colour, and at least two suits that I would have worn myself - not at the same time you understand, especially in this heat! Wardrobe is thanks to Sabine Kaufmann.

And finally, Sound and Lighting Designer is Felix Kipper. Both areas impeccably timed to create the perfect complete blackouts along with the sound effects and musical backdrop.

This play is my first play from Theater Die Kauze, even though they have been making the journey from Germany to Nottingham regularly since 1982, exchanging shows with the Lace Market Theatre returning the compliment by taking shows over to Germany.

On Wednesday and Thursday, you'll also get the chance to see "Same Time Next Year" by Bernard Slade performed by Jakobus Theater.

There are two opportunities to catch this production on Tuesday with a 2.30 matinee and a 7.30 evening performance.

The performances are all free but you will need a ticket.