REVIEW: Round the Horne, Allendale Theatre Company, Allendale Centre

The inaugural stage production by this company, took which took place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, took the audience back in time to this 1960s BBC radio comedy which was created by Barry Took and Marty Feldman.

The audience didn’t need to have listened to the original show to enjoy sketches featuring the camp pair Julian and Sandy, the eccentric J Peasmold Gruntfuttock and Rambling Syd Rumpo.

Open auditions were held for this production as they will for all the ones in the future, with the aim of finding the best and brightest talent on the community.

And they certainly succeeded on this occasion.

It was directed by Alan Colclough, who absolutely got under the skin of Kenneth Williams – as he does with every part he plays.

Justin Ellery, who has a number of TV productions on his CV, was polished as Kenneth Horne, with Gordon Wray, adeptly adopting numerous accents as Hugh Paddick. Bev Beck was superb as Betty Marsden with her numerous parodies including a TV cook. Completing this very professional line up was Tony Lee as the radio announcer Douglas Smith, with Pam Mizon proving the sound effects.

Music was provided by producer Brain Harries, Polly Morris and Bob Carter.

And there is more to look forward to next year as the company is to stage The Good Life on 7, 8, and 9 May.