amdram.co.uk

Not being a big fan of farce it was with some trepidation that I started to read this script, however only a few pages in I found myself chuckling away at the obvious mistaken identity, and improbable situations the characters found themselves in.

The play is set during one Saturday afternoon/evening in the honeymoon suite of an expensive hotel in Birmingham. Nick Willmott QC is attending a weekend conference at the hotel, which has been organised by his father in law, Sir Harry Lumsden-Clark, who also happens to be Lord Chancellor, and a homophobic bigot. Nick has booked the honeymoon suite as he is making the most of a weekend away from his wife Hilary (Sir Harry’s daughter), so is planning to entertain Toni, a claustrophobic legal secretary. Unfortunately his best friend, Hugo Barnes QC, has been booked into the adjoining room, and quickly rumbles Nick’s plans. However as Hugo is single, and never been in a relationship, Sir Harry suspects him of being into “Hotel & Catering” – if you get my drift. Hugo is desperate to become a High Court Judge, and so to convince Sir Harry that he is straight, they claim that Toni is with Hugo.

Needless to say a lot of confusion follows with Nick’s wife arriving, her sister Liz, who is infatuated with Hugo, and the constant comings and goings of Christian the bell boy, who has an unnatural fascination with Hugo, but not for the obvious reasons.

All turns out right in the end, but not before some startling revelations, personal discovery, several plates of smoked salmon sandwiches and most of the cast ending up in just their underwear!!! Typical – oh well.

There is just the one set, consisting of four exits, double bed, and any other trimmings the stage manager may wish to add. However as it is an expensive chain of hotels the décor / finishings must look high class.

The cast is for five men, and three women, and age wise I would suggest that this can be fairly flexible.

So after some initial doubts I found this play to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, and can imagine it very easy from an audience’s point of view to watch, not overly complicated, and not stretching the boundaries of disbelief too far.

Purchase from The Internet Theatre Bookshop

Purchase from Amazon.co.uk

To help fund the running of amdram.co.uk we are affiliated with both amazon.co.uk and The Internet Theatre Bookshop.  We get a small commission for each purchase made via these links.  Where possible we link to both stores so that you can choose your favourite.

You can also visit amdram.co.uk’s Amazon Affiliate store which lists all plays and books appearing on amdram.co.uk.