Theatre review: Last of the Summer Wine - The Moonbather

Published on Wednesday 7 October 2009 18:57

LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE – THE MOONBATHER *** PERTH THEATRE

ROY Clarke has been responsible for some sublime moments of television comedy, and Last of the Summer Wine is top of that list. As with all long-running shows, the moments of inspiration grew fewer as the run grew longer, and much the same can be said for this latest episode, in the shape of a stage farce rather than a television sitcom.

Clarke conjures up some good one-liners alongside some fairly laboured action as the familiar characters – Foggy (John Pennington), Norman (Timothy Kightley) and Compo (Harry Dickman) – find themselves embroiled in a two-stranded plot revolving around Foggy's attempted romantic enticement of Samantha (Gillian Axtell) and the efforts of the caricature incompetent policeman, Gifford (Steven Pinder), to catch a supposed streaker (Tony Adams), who turns out not to be what he seems.

Nora Batty (Estelle Collins) has a small role, and there's an even briefer cameo for the lovelorn Howard and Marina.

It is no easy task for anyone to take on characters so firmly associated with specific actors, and it is hard not to keep mentally comparing their performances with Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, et al.

They just about cope with the challenge, and Ruth Madoc's feisty presence as Samantha's domineering sister, Meg, is a bonus. They keep the silly action moving along at a nice pace and don't overstay their welcome – the whole show is over in well under two hours, including the interval.