MAST Mayflower – until 9th September 2023
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
4****
New Old Friends have introduced the first night of their UK run of Crimes on Centre Court in Southampton, and it truly is not to be missed!!
A limited cast of 4 head up this fantastic show and do a superb job. We follow Penny Pink and Perry Pink as they try to investigate the murder of Lord Knows, a highly esteemed tennis club owner. As the crime is investigated, more deaths ensue and it seems that this case can never be solved. However, with careful investigation, the crimes at Whombuldon Tennis Club are unearthed, and we discover Who Dun It!!!
Kirsty Cox , Ben Thornton, Katriona Brown and Emile Clark are the fabulous four working tirelessly to bring an incredible number of characters to life – not including the funniest part of the show, the barbershop quartet of singing hedges! Each member of the company was superb and did an exquisite job of quick changes between characters. It was astonishing how seamlessly the cast changed-adding in some comedic blunders with wigs and accents!
There is no lead actor, this is a real blend of teamwork and shows that, as the company suggests, these really are new, old friends! From slo-mo tennis plays, to the fast paced predicaments the characters find themselves in, there isn’t a moment without joy in this production. I particularly enjoyed the pantomime-esque ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ as encouraged by the cast members at strategic points. Ben Thornton, as Perry Pink, had the greatest audience interaction as he displayed his perfect ‘taking the stairs, behind a bush and elevator’ tricks-owing to a rapturous applause each time.
If you have no idea about tennis (much like myself) or are a seasoned watcher of Wimbledon, there is no reason why you should not enjoy this. Side-splittingly funny, I was in tears with laughter at every musical interlude from the Hedge Quartet – I cannot recommend enough!