Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

All the old catchphrases are there, including “I will say zis only once” as the stage version of the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo was performed by the Bruce James company at the Marina Theatre last night.

The original comedy, which played out on our television screens for 10 years, has lost none of its brilliance in its transfer to the stage.

The farce of frolics in Nazi-occupied France revolves around a painting, “The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies”, and involves René, played by Damian Williams, who tries to keep the various threads of his convoluted love life from his wife Edith, magnificently played by Lynette McMorrough (Glenda Banks of Crossroads fame) as he unwittingly becomes involved with the resistance leader Michelle's (Natasha Symms - Kate Patrick of Hollyoaks) plans to assassinate Hitler.

Old favourites include a wonderful performance by Benjamin Roddy as Crabtree - he of the “Good Moaning” catchphrase - and a hilarious combination of Andrew Ryan as Herr Flick with Kate Burrell as Helga.

Tom Gilling was a wonderfully camp Lieutenant Gruber and Lucinda Rhodes-Flaherty (Sky One's Dream Team) as Yvette along with Chania Belle as an excellent Mimi were wonderful as the sexy waitresses and René's love interests.

Too good a show to miss.

t Continues until Saturday, June 17.