Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 28th January 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
I have always loved PG. Wodehouse’s books, especially the Jeeves & Wooster series. One of the stars of that ITV series was Robert Daws, star of tonight’s show. I didn’t know much about Wodehouse himself so I was intrigued to see this show.
This is a tour de force one man show in which we find our heroic author fresh from writing to his daughter Leonora. We, the audience, get to hear the author’s letters and thoughts out loud, learning all about his latest adventures including a recent visitor to the household who wishes to write his biography. This simple yet highly effective setup is the perfect vehicle for a very entertaining evening, kind of like being at an intimate dinner party where amusing anecdotes are shared by very popular demand. Mr Daws keeps us enthralled with a generous, affectionate portrayal of Wodehouse. We are regaled with background information on his life, including his working methods and how he progressed professionally in the early years. I never knew he had written lyrics to many popular shows for instance. This gives Mr Dawes the opportunity to regularly burst forth into song and he has a surprisingly melodious and characterful voice. These songs are gently charming as was the fashion back then – I particularly enjoyed the love song about sausages missing mash. I could almost see Jeeves raising an exasperated eyebrow at Bertie as he sat at the piano bashing the living daylights out of said ditty. If only there had been a banjolele to hand. There was plenty of mention of all things Wodehousian; Jeeves, Wooster, Blandings…. The recounting of the “Pig-hooey” attempts to get The Empress of Blandings appetite back was brilliantly portrayed with our lead showing off all his years on the stage and screen with some marvellous multiple characterisations effected with a vocal inflection, a leap of octave and a body swerve! Simply wonderful.
The set (by Lee Newby) is a cleverly furnished affair – his study, complete with comfy chair, writing desk, bar and music stand with score. Pretty much telling you everything you need to know about the man himself. I loved learning more about P.G. via the small domestic snippets (his adored Pekingese, martinis after his daily bath etc.). There was a surprising depth and emotion after the interval when the German Broadcasts saga was recounted along with a very personal tragedy that I won’t reveal so as not to spoil the surprise (but it was not something I had seen coming). A real tearjerker moment handled with care and admirable subtlety by all concerned including William Humble’s superb script, flawlessly directed by Robin Herford. This show is, simply, a joyous evening full of laughter, understated nuance, warmth and kindness. If you crave a lovely escapist evening of agreeable entertainment then I cannot recommend this show highly enough. A thoroughly fruity binge which even Jeeves could not offer an improving word towards.