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Last of the Summer Wine - The Moonbather

Published Monday 27 July 2009 at 15:10 by Barbara Champion

Roy Clarke’s famous characters are together again for this world premiere stage adaption of the longest running television sitcom in the world.

The overgrown boys, with Harry Dickman as Compo, Timothy Kightley as Clegg and John Pennington as Foggy, lean on each other roughly and comically as they become seriously embroiled in the catching of the village streaker. Their three-sided conversations are as inane and ridiculous as fans of the show would expect.

Ruth Madoc as Meg understands these idiotic old fools and pretends to have no time for their farcical behaviour or the romantic notions of her kindly but clueless friend Samantha, played by Gillian Axtell. Both ladies are keenly watchable and entertaining, with a flair for timing.

Tony Adams plays the hooded, hungry streaker with a skin complaint and shapely legs shown right up to the hips. He spends much time being dragged around the house, hiding under small tables and with Compo, gets wet and cold trailing through the onstage river.

Steven Pinder on his bicycle is impressive as the policeman with the noisy bugle, a liking for alcohol and a fixation about catching the streaker.

The sets are excellent, with amazing trees and clever use of small spaces. The interior of Clegg’s house is fun and caught in a fifties time warp, complete with sunray door, starburst mirror, little wall lights and ducks flying across the wallpaper.

Much care and attention to detail has been directed upon this production and it should tour well.

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