★★★★
Gavin Robertson & Nicholas Collett in Association with Virtually Creative. Goodwood Theatre. 22 Feb 2023
Brits Gavin Roberston and Nicholas Collett have been acting, directing, playwriting and creating theatre separately but also quite comfortably together since the ‘80s. They are so congenial with each other they can probably wear each other’s underwear.
The opening deceit is that four of the cast are held up in traffic and the two actors will take on the multiple roles of all six. I fell for it, of course. In this hilarious spoof of the murder mystery, Collett smears his mouth with Miss Marple’s lippy, Robertson holds up Poirot’s moustache with his blue-taped finger, and the pair play Holmes and Watson as a Laurel and Hardy act.
They unleash the devices of classic good old British comical theatre and radio for farce, quick costume changes, hats galore, sound effects, mix-ups, double-takes and behind-the-scenes antics by the actors playing the actors playing the characters. They employ every accent known to the British Isles. It’s fast, funny and furious. When you have famous fodder for mirth like our quartet of detectives and all the implicated townfolk from Midsomer you can muster, I guarantee you, your troubles will melt away into smiles and laughter and yes, wonderment at the shear virtuosity of Robertson & Collett. Bravo!
David Grybowski
When: 17 to 26 Feb
Where: Goodwood Theatre
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
