Salisbury Playhouse – until 23 June
Reviewed by Sharon MacDonald-Armitage
4****
Based on the golfing stories of PG Wodehouse and adapted by Jon Glover and Edward Taylor, Salisbury Playhouse production of Love on the Links, directed by Ryan McBryde is a hoot of an evening out. Set in Surrey’s Woodhills Golf Club, just far enough away from London.
Set in the club’s “19th Hole” Love on the Links opens with The Oldest Member (Michael Fenton Stevens) snoozing in his armchair by the fireplace. Partaking in his favourite tipple, a White Horse and Malvern, which he never seems to pay for, he is the driving force of the play narrating the various woeful love stories to Jack (Adam Jackson-Smith) who is enamoured with Daphne Cartwright and struggling to find a way to win her over. His anecdotes and manipulation of the various characters ensures the stories are amusing and eventually all link in. He even engages with the audience drawing them into the narrative like an old friend; probably to gently scam another drink!
The set by James Button cleverly conveys the feeling of a traditional golf club with its wood panelling, corner bar and leather chairs. So much effort has gone into the detail including the carefully placed props and costume additions, that you could easily see yourself buying a quick snifter from the bar. The use of a leather sofa without a back is intriguing until you see how it takes on a life of its own when the actors begin to use it across the stage.
With the cast rushing around playing various roles linked to The Oldest Member’s stories, it is nothing short of comical. Lily (Jenna Boyd) is hilarious and is seamless with her comic timing; her sideways glances and fluttering eyelashes paint a thousand words. Gloria (Tiffany Graves) is a perfect pairing with Lily; a very jolly hockey sticks ebullient gal!
The silly slapstick upper class humour is peppered by the downright earthiness of barman Fitt (Tim Frances) who is well aware of the nature of the stories The Oldest Member narrates. With Asser (David Shelley) and Turnbull (Rob Witcomb) proving a fine pairing with Lily and Gloria there is nothing but an evening of fun ahead.
If PG Wodehouse is your thing, then you will not be disappointed and even if it isn’t there is still much fun to be had with this show