By Peter Kemp
What an amazing night of fun, laughs and entertainment from 1812 Theatre.
Opening night saw a full house proving that after the last two years people want to relax and have some fun.
The story is of two well-married people where the wife thinks her husband is two-timing her. So she does something about it, arranging a rendezvous in a sleazy hotel.
A classic French farce with the obligatory numbers of doors and everyone running in and out of the same.
1812 created a marvellous set, the opening scene was set in the home of the Chandebises.
Act 2 in the Hotel Coq d’Or and act 3 back in the home of the Chandebise’s
Remarkable sets with the hotel having a revolving bedroom in case of someone who should not be there appears.
The 15 performers gave a great production, and several do stand out. This does not belie the others whose performance was flawless but because of their roles I have to mention, Conor Quinn as Camille Chandebise who, in the play had no palate but a false one which he kept losing, Quinn handled the role with finesse speaking so that no one could understand him, no mean feat. Bruce Hardie as both Victor-Emmanuel the husband and Puch the drunken porter at the hotel. He has some quick changes of character which he handled professionally and resulted in the audience enjoying his performance. Rowan Francis as Carlos Homenides de Histangua as the jealous husband who raced around with a gun in hand trying to find and shoot his wife’s lover ( who doesn’t exist). Lastly, there is Daniel Parton, who as Marcel Tournel was regularly slapped by Raymonde Chandebise, Chased and tossed off beds and couches. He really suffered.
A great evening of amusement, thoroughly enjoyed by the opening night audience.
