Original Review:

Show Rating:

Because of the complicated props and convoluted sets there’s always plenty of scope for things going wrong. Fake ‘taches drop off, props are forgotten and unreliable mise-en-scene trees struggle to give up their props. But as ever the pair deal with it well, though this is not an easy task as the crowd were a little flat, too.

There’s always a touch of the Carry Ons… in a Plested and Brown production, here with face pulling, larger than life - often archetypal - characters and groanworthy gags.

The plot has geography teacher Stacey leaving the UK for the Isle of Sambuca, having finally snapped due to the oppressive rules infringing on her school outings. She soon discovers that she has been inadvertently followed by the ultra-careful health and safety officer (and her ex-boyfriend) Michael, lured there by the promise of a conference.

There are so many sublime moments when the pair conduct a scene change or theatrical effect with inventive and silly ideas – Michael’s flight to Sambuca is portrayed with a toy plane and a red scarf.

Plus there are some simple and delightful ridiculous moments to enjoy such as when Michael dressed only in swimming trunks ‘finds himself’ amongst the crowd and Stacey briefly transforms into Shirley Bassey after eating some dodgy peanuts.

Quirkily daft stuff.

Reviewed by: Marissa Burgess