Stage Review – The Cat and The Canary



Britt Ekland (Mrs Pleasant) and Tracy Shaw (Annabelle West) in the touring production
of The Cat and The Canary 2021: Image source: https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/cat-and-canary

Stage Review – The Cat and The Canary





Comment: ‘Theatrics aplenty – great fun!’

This is a comedy thriller in a mansion house setting - South West England; between the wars.

It is twenty years (to the day) after the passing of the wealthy eccentric, Mr West. At the invitation of West’s lawyer, Mr Crosby (Eric Carte), and his loyal, live-in housekeeper Mrs Pleasant (Britt Ekland); six of West’s descendants are summonsed to meet at the house on the moors - where the revealing of the beneficiary/beneficiaries of West’s wealth happens.

Characters include: Harry (Gary Webster); Susan (Marti Webb) and her niece, Cicily, (Nikki Patel); Charlie (Ben Nealon); Paul (Antony Costa) and Annabelle (Tracy Shaw). The latter being the only person who shares the surname, West with the late benefactor.

Dramatic irony does not feature in this thriller. There is nothing we (the audience) knows about, that characters themselves do not. However, we do know the reason why no one is allowed to leave the house this stormy night. It is a proper guessing game this one. It is not intensely thrilling, but it is fun!

The conclusion is more amusing, than startling. However, what is startling, are the sound effects; this show includes some extremely loud bangs.

The cast consists of many actor veterans of stage, TV, and film. This will not win any awards, but the there’s a degree of professionalism in the performance that is evident.

A good, all-round, entertaining production.



Review by theatre critic,  Debra Hall – who attended the press night of The Cat and The Canary on 07 Sept 2021, at Derby Theatre, Derby at 7.30 pm


References:

Hall, D. (2014) Review of : 'Black Coffee' tssreviews.com

ONLINE

Derby Theatre (2021) Cat and Canary https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/cat-and-canary

Bill Kenwright Ltd. (2021) The Cat and the Canary https://www.kenwright.com/portfolio/the-cat-and-the-canary/

The Urban Collective (2021) Gary Webster - The Cat and the Canary https://www.urban-collective.co.uk/news/Gary_Webster_-_The_Cat_and_the_Canary/


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