Perfect Nonsense is perfect entertainment and because of these three astounding actors, also terrifically smart.
You don’t have to know the PG Wodehouse books, even if it adds to the fun. All you have to do is gather a group of friends and make a night of it. You don’t even have to think, the trio on stage do that for you. It’s like the title explains, perfect nonsense and underline both words because the play is packed with both. Open your ears and watch every move or you’ll lose the odd reference or movement which extracts a constant giggle. It’s the kind of script with performances chomping at the bit that has you smiling throughout.
If you know your theatre actors, simply check the cast closely. Hopkins can equally easily don the odd lampshade with a skirt, a hop, skip and a jump, and still have audiences gasping at the sheer audacity and brilliance of his skills. It’s astonishing how someone can inhabit different characters and adopt accents at lightning speed.
Roxmouth plays Wooster with an appealing naiveté, a wink and a giggle to the audience whom he hoodwinks from the moment they catch their first glimpse. Yet another talent who seems to pull off everything he sets his mind to. But it is also his interplay with Jeeves that’s so endearing from the acting to the character nods.
Fridjhon is a comic genius as he stomps, clatters and bangs his way across stage, in and out of doors, with dogs drawing him across the stage, stepping into giant-size shoes and playing hooky with wigs as if it’s what you do.
Knowing King would be designing, it was a certainty that the props and the set would become another character – or several as is the case here – and he invites them to come out and play.
And director Stead pulls it together with a rhythm that never loses pace.
Don’t miss out on the fun.