Arts:Blog

Theatre Review: Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense (***)

Michael Cox reviews a 'perfectly entertaining' production.

Bertie Wooster has a rather incredible story he wants to tell. It’s so incredible that he’s hired out a theatre space in order to tell a paying audience all about it. Problem is, he has no theatrical training and quickly realises he’s completely out of his depth: he has no actors, no script and, barring an armchair and lamp, no set.

Thank goodness then for the arrival of his intrepid valet Jeeves. Jeeves understand theatrics and, with the help of Seppings, the butler for Wooster’s aunt, they manage to make a convincing go at relaying the tale, building the set as the story unfolds and throwing themselves into whichever new character pops up.

James Lance was unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Bertie Wooster on the press night, but understudy Joel Sams proved himself to not be mere second fiddle. He gives a terrifically spirited performance, swapping back and forth between Bertie the narrator and Bertie the protagonist with great ease, and he’s a blast from start to finish. Equally great is Robert Goodale’s Seppings, a character who seems to be having the time of his life playing multiple roles with panache.

But the play belongs to Jeeves. All knowing and ever resourceful, Jeeves is one step ahead by anticipating the next scene, almost always to Wooster’s great amusement. Brilliantly performed by John Gordon Sinclair, Jeeves is an utter delight to watch. As the play gets more outrageous, Sinclair matches every challenge, and the success of the production lies not in what happens next but in seeing how the next hurdle is passed.

And, as the title correctly suggests, it all is perfect nonsense. The story might not really amount to much, and most of the characters are perhaps shallow stereotypes, but it is all good fun told with great pluck. In short, it is far from perfect, but it is perfectly entertaining.

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense is at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow until November 29 before continuing its UK tour. For more details go to: http://www.jeevesandwoosterplay.com.