Right Ho, Wodehouse! @ Whissonsett Village Hall

Right Ho, Wodehouse! @ Whissonsett Village Hall

By TREVOR HEATON

P G Wodehouse, through his dozens of novels, continues to delight millions with his witty prose and unforgettable characters.

And it was in the guise of one of those characters – Lord Emsworth of Blandings – that actor Christopher Owen addressed the “Parva Village Literary Society” – alias an appreciative Norfolk audience – last night.

This was another splendid show put on by Hethersett-based Rural Arts East, which does so much to bring quality entertainment to small rural venues. Mr Owen is more often seen in TVshows like Inspector Morse and Poirot, but last night he became the bumbling Lord E, with his subject the life and songs of his “biographer”, PG Wodehouse.

Accompanied by David Wykes on piano, Mr Owen was delightful in retelling anecdotes about the celebrated pig the Empress of Blandings and the Blandings Castle clan, but also in performing some of Wodehouse's many fine songs.

This was a well-paced show admirably suited to a village hall, enabling Mr Owen to set up some amusing audience participation.

As “Lord Emsworth” said, Wode-house “was born to cheer us up.”

That is a sentiment all his fans will share.

t Right Ho, Wodehouse! is at the village halls of Baconsthorpe on Saturday March 31, Wood Norton Thursday April 5, Hockwold on Friday April 6 and finally Watlington on Saturday April 7.