'Allo 'Allo     Photo Album     Autumn Play

29th October 2007

'Allo 'Allo

'Allo 'Allo Ringwood School Theatre

THE problem with performing a stage version of a popular TV series is that most people will have pre-conceived ideas of how the characters should appear. Well sorry, Gorden Kaye et al, but as far as I’m concerned you’ve been eclipsed, because in this production, brilliantly directed by Sheryle Daniels, that little café and its staff and customers were, quite simply, très magnifique.  The totally realistic set was a complete delight, French down to the last glass of vin de table, and such wonderfully clever use was made of the downstage side areas to create the various additional scenes. And it is quite clear that Richard Bennett and Poppy Garvey were born to play Rene and Edith, so well did they inhabit their characters. There were so many gems too among their fellow performers that it would be unfair to single out any individuals, yet impossible to mention everyone. Suffice to say that I adored every single one. Then, when the actors had taken their bows and we thought it was time to leave, along came the piece de resistance – a filmed curtain call. They’ll have a job on their hands to beat that one, je pense.

Linda Kirkman

'Allo 'Allo - a busman's holiday On any given weekend, enthusiastic players from more than 2,500 amateur theater companies around Britain get together to put on a show. Last weekend, I went down to Hampshire by the New Forest to see the Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society production of “‘Allo, ‘Allo.” It’s a perennial wartime farce written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft based on their popular 1982 television sitcom, which is still in reruns on the BBC. I was there because my brother Richard Bennett was starring as René, the long-suffering owner of a small café in France during World War Two. Rich is gifted with a fine stage presence and great comic timing but he wasn’t alone in making the show hugely entertaining. Veterans Poppy Garvey and Peter Ansell and younger performers such as Andy Steeds and Julie Lax shone among the fine cast under the polished direction of Sheryle Daniels. The set itself received applause for being such a perfect replica of the TV show. It’s fun being reminded of how much talent is to be found far from the commercial theatrical rat race and how enjoyable it is to be among theatergoers who, like the performers, simply want to have a good time. Next up for the Ringwood players is their annual Christmas show, “A Ceremony of Carols” and an April production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies.” Ray Bennett from his weblog www.thecliffedge.com

'Allo 'Allo