Dick Barton Special Agent

Published Wednesday 6 February 2008 at 15:00 by Mary Redman

“Calloo, callay. Oh frabjous day!” Back to the wonderful era of radio masts broadcasting 15 minutes of exciting, heroic English derring-do each postwar evening, as we innocent children gathered around the wireless to hear whether Dick Barton succeeded in overcoming villains. Or whether the dastardly foreigner would prevail. All to the stirring strains of the Devil’s Gallop that still raises our pulses.

The Queen’s has a great track record with spoof heroic literature. Now it’s Phil Willmott’s musical send-up celebrating ten years of resident actor musicians. Great fun, although maybe working even better for our generation that remembers Barton.

Mark Walters’ flexible retro set reveals the nightclub where the villains gather to gloat, Barton’s office and more.

Gorgeous, pouting Jonathan Markwood revels in being evil Baron Scarheart. The theme tune We are the Scumbags of the World was sung to Nessun Dorma and We are the Champions.

Karen Fisher-Pollard’s excellently glamorous Marta Heartburn hymns Barton to G&S’ Tit Willow and she’s superb as dainty heroine Daphne Fritters.

Barton’s secret is to “comb your hair and always wear a vest” in this delicious parody of postwar morale-boosting BBC broadcasting.

It’s great to have the Queen’s favourite back - droll-faced, athletic Paul Leonard as our stiff, upper-lipped hero doubling as Snowy.

Simon Jessup’s Jock is good value as the stereotypical Scotsman, Oliver Beamish is the announcer and the Colonel, Rowan Talbot camps it up as MC, Lady Laxington and Sir Stanley.

Matt Devitt directs adroitly with oodles of tongue in cheek irony.