Splendid Jeeves And Woosterkicks off new Stables season

Jeeves and Wooster at the Stables Theatre SUS-161002-093421001

It was with not a little trepidation that I went on a Sunday afternoon to see the Stables Theatre production of Jeeves and Wooster - writes Margaret Blurton.

Three men and a silly script, much old hat and frock-nickery, how could this be made to work? Shall we ask director Chris Lacey how he achieved the singular feat of pulling it off so dashingly well?

Our three protagonists, Bertie Wooster (Stuart Miller), Jeeves (Rob Hustwayte) and Seppings (Johnny Magnanti), assisted Mr. Lacey by proving simply magnificent. Cow-creamer capers, notebook nonsense, Black Shorts blackguards, all were despatched with aplomb by the trio of talented thespians. Although there were elements of audience acknowledgement, for the most part the antics were maintained in the moment and taken quite as seriously as the situation demanded, much to the benefit of the general comic effect. Jeeves’ unwavering serenity was the foil to Wooster’s exuberance; Seppings was all things to all men (and women), as if it came naturally to him. Outfits were donned and doffed alongside mannerisms, amongst which was notable the two-character tailoring (specialist costume design: Julia Dance) allowing Jeeves simultaneously to be Stiffy Byng and himself.