Sheringham Little Theatre's sizzling Summer Theatre season kicked off in hilarious style on Thursday night with the frenetic Ray Cooney farce 'Funny Money'.
Directed by Gillian King, the energetic tale of a large and unexpected cash windfall and the subsequent moral repositioning in brittle suburbia of the recipients, crackled and fizzed along at a tremendous pace, raising plenty of laughs along the way.
Fast-track alcoholic Jean (played by Jenny Johns) and her pop-eyed optimist husband Henry (Rupert Mason) both hit the right note from the off, setting the correct pace and tone. The rest of the professional cast all contributed enjoyably; with Andrew Laithwaite's understated menace, Will Nash's excellently-timed comic confusion, and Lauren Verrier's deliberately melodramatic gestures all hitting the spot.
The set was detailed and convincing as a 1980s living room; with the added unexpected treat of a ceiling set and low-slung lighting rig, adding a noir feel to the more sinister parts of the play as the lifesize shadows fought and danced upstage.
A fantastic opening night for the venue, cast, crew - and most of all the audience. A wonderfully entertaining evening.
Performances for 'Funny Money' run until Wednesday 31st July. Tickets available online or by telephone on 01263 822347. Price: £14.00 - £21.00.
SLT's Summer Theatre season continues with Frederick Knott's 'Dial 'M' for Murder' (2nd - 7th August), Alan Ayckbourn's 'Absurd Person Singular' (9th - 17th August), James Cawood's 'Sunkissed' (21st - 28th August), and The Goodale Brothers' 'Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense' (30th August - 4th September).
CHRIS SADLER
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