The Ladykillers - Theatre Royal

We really did not know what to expect with this production. I knew it was set a while ago because of the costumes but that was it.   Just been researching it and I never knew it was originally a British film and it was produced way back in 1955 and starred among others Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. and a few minutes ago just discovered there was 2004 film version with Tom Hanks!

Graham Lineham wrote this production (most famous I suppose for writing Father Ted) and it starred Michele Dotrice, Shaun Williamson and Clive Mantle. In a nutshell a sweet old lady, Mrs Wilberforce,  rents a room in her higgley piggedly house to a 'professor'. What she doesn't realise is that he is a master criminal and when him and his mates are practising their music in his room, they are really planning a heist. 


The set was wonderful and at first the lopsided house made me feel a bit queasy but your eyes soon adjust. The cast was excellent and were well into their roles. We looked the jokes and really did not expect it to be as good as this. 

I loved the car chase using the remote control vehicles and the performance of the musicians in front of Wilberforce's posh friends. They manage to pass off the 'noise' as modern music. As someone in the play said 'being fooled by art is a pleasure only for the middle classes' or something similar. 

This was an excellent show we are glad we went to see.