The Liverpool Playhouse reaches its 100th year this month and, to honour the grand occasion, our city welcomes the premiere of 1955 Ealing comedy The Ladykillers in a brand new stage adaptation.
Described by Director Sean Foley as a "a completely original 2011 experience inspired by a classic", it was with both excitement and trepidation I met the news of this dastardly scheme. The man taking on the challenge, Graham Linehan, has penned much-loved sitcoms such as Father Ted and IT Crowd but how would he fare transforming this cinematic masterpiece in his very first attempt at a West End comedy? Capturing the magic ingredients from the film and amalgamating them into a fresh beast for the stage is no enviable task.
The loving attention to detail poured into this production was clear from the moment the incredible set design of Mrs Wilberforce's 'lopsided' house is revealed. The audience gazed in wonderment at the larger-than-life vision of exaggerated subsidence in the chintzy paradise upon which Professor Marcus (Peter Capaldi) and his hapless associates will prey.
An all-star cast of comedy stars Peter Capaldi (The Thick Of It), James Fleet (Vicar of Dibley) and Ben Miller (Armstrong and Miller) make for a tour-de-force of comic timing supported by the excellent "One-Round" (Clive Rowe) young Mr Robinson (Stephen Wight) and the delightfully doddery Marcia Warren (Mrs Wilberforce) give their all throughout this two-hour joy ride.
Linehan has relished carefully tweaking the eccentric Mrs Wilberforce's lonely life with her parrot General Gordon - cleverly hidden beneath a cage cover for the duration - and her unusual situation above King’s Cross railway tunnel for which the set, sound and special effects designers must be commended for the uncanny depiction using nothing but vibrating furniture, smoke and flashing lights as a train chuggers past.
The mild-mannered Mrs Wilberforce at first welcomes the arrival of Professor Marcus and his motley crew, a band of criminals using the cover of 'amateur musicians' as they plot the heist of a security van using the old lady as cover.
Tension builds and laughs come thick and fast as Capaldi's spectacularly deranged portrayal of meglomaniac Marcus' escalates when his wicked plan unravels at the seams. Backstabbing, lies and greed bring about each man's downfall in the most gratifyingly humorous circumstances, which Linehan has re-written to such great effect that even the most ardent fan of the original will not fail to be impressed.
This is a truly stand-alone production, using the 1955 film as a spectacular starting point, Linehan and the company have presented a refreshing new vision, finding laughs in slapstick on stage that you simply could not achieve with the same aplomb on the silver screen. The centenary month at the Playhouse is offering a true gift in this show and I urge you to see its debut outing before The Ladykillers leaves for well-deserved rave reviews in London.
10/10
The Ladykillers at the Playhouse until 19 November. Tickets available via box office on 0151 709 4776. The 11th November is the Playhouse's 100th birthday and to celebrate we are having a special gala performance of The Ladykillers (Prices £60, £50 and £40) including a champagne reception and a celebration post show with members of the cast, a champagne toast and birthday cake.
The Ladykillers moves to London's Gielgud Theatre from 26 November. See www.theladykillers.co.uk for more details and how to book.
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