The Stage

Round the Twist

Published Thursday 24 November 2011 at 12:47 by Hugh Homan

Eastern Angles’ 2011 Christmas show is subtitled: Oliver Nicklefield’s Bleak Little Tale of Two Mutual Expectations. And Son. Which says it all really. Brendan Murray’s delightful comedy romps through a farcical mishmash of Dickens’ plots and references and the company of five enjoys every moment as they ham shamelessly and involve the audience in their tortuous tale.

Zach Lee, Greg Wagland, Gabrielle Douglas, Joel Sams and Sally Ann Burnett in Round the Twist at John Mills Theatre, Ipswich Photo: Mike Kwasniak Photography

Apart from a short while in the second half when the plot (such as it is) seems to stall and there’s more concern for some very technical effects, we bound along from one hilarious encounter to the next. Ian Teague has packed a fascinating amount of Victorian “stuff” into his miniscule set and Faby Pym’s costumes catch our perception of the period perfectly.

Joel Sams is a fine upright Oliver and Tiny Tom, speaks the lines mellifluously and plays a mean violin. Gabrielle Douglas joins him in accompanying their touching duet on the violin too and brings some moments of tenderness to an otherwise frantic race as Dorabella 1. Sally Ann Burnett has a lot of fun as Dorabella 2 and is a comely Mrs Crumbles. Greg Wagland wafts about divertingly in a long white dress as Miss Haversack while Zach Lee crouches obsequiously as Obadiah Snoop, who could presumably be heard down on the quayside, so commanding is his voice and presence. Ivan Cutting’s company provides an entertaining alternative to more traditional Christmas fare and a welcome break from national doom and gloom.