"Rough Crossing" by Tom Stoppard

Nottingham Lace Market Theatre

Ahoy there! All aboard for a trip back in time to the heady 1930,s on board the liner SS Italian Castle. So up yer anchors and set sail for the Lace Market Theatre.

Why oh why have I not seen this wonderful piece of comedy before? Thank you Tom Stoppard and thank you Lace Market Theatre. Not one of Stoppard's oft performed works, in fact, according to Samuel French's licencing web site, this is the only place you can see this play in the whole wide world... this week anyway!

Let me tell you what the play is all about...

Two playwrights, Turai (Sam Allison) and Gal (Daniel Bryant) are aboard a ship sailing from England to New York. They are accompanied by a young composer for their musical comedy named Adam (James Hallam) and two actors, Ivor (Nik Hedges) and Natasha (Kareena Sims). Natasha is Adam's fiancée. During the voyage, they must fine-tune and rehearse the play, for presentation upon arrival. The only other member of the cast -- and the glue that holds this production together -- is the ship's steward, Dvornichek (Chris Sims).

Trouble ensues when Adam overhears Natasha and Ivor in flagrante delicto. To keep the project from unravelling, Turai concocts an explanation: they were rehearsing a new ending for the play.

Will they pull it off? Will Adam believe this cooked up story? Will Turai finally get that Cognac he keeps asking for? Does Dvornichek ever sleep? All will be revealed... but only if you pop down to board SS Lace Market Theatre for this play within a play screwball comedy.

Directed by Clare Choubey she has managed to contain all of that 1930's style glamour and awfully good comedy for a spiffingly marvellous piece of theatre which will have you laughing from the opening scene all the way to the final bows.

The set design is by Emma Lane, and as soon as you walk into the theatre you know what you are going to get. The clean cut, ship shape, symmetrical white curved walls and port holes place you right at home inside this ocean liner. Oh and I love the props (Coral Bailey).

Musical Director is Piotr Wisniewski, who created the 1930's atmosphere through the songs, which by the way were written by Andre Previn for the original production.

The costumes are by Jane Herring and were perfect for the era and the play.

So what can I say about the cast for this very funny and cleverly written play, with some cleverly observed double entendres and puns, just ready to be spotted?

Sam Allison was excellent as the often "on the verge" playwright, Turai. Some wonderfully emotive outbursts, especially in Act Two.

Daniel Bryant, the much more laid back of the two playwrights, who also has quite an appetite for eating!

James Hallam's character is a really interesting one with his vocal foibles to start, which although we shouldn't laugh at, well Stoppard obviously wrote this in for comedy purposes, so why shouldn't we, and we do. It's not just this though because there is a very funny, farce style moment which includes retaining Adam in any way possible by Turai and Gal.

Kareena Sims not only gets to show off her wonderful doleful expressions and doe eyes, but also her gorgeous singing voice, as well as her flair for comedy. A red haired equivalent of Betty Boop.

Nik Hedges makes his debut for the Lace Market Theatre as Ivor, but just experiencing his comic timing and acting ease, shows that this isn't his first foray into acting. He has quite a list of roles on his acting CV. An easy and comfortable watch.

Last, but by no means least is Chris Sims. What a brilliantly written and equally brilliantly performed character. Dvornichek, the steward gets some very lengthy and wordy pieces, delivered practically without a breath taken. Within these lines are some very comical pieces that need to be listened out for.

A play like this depends on comic timing and this cast have this down to a tee. You can see and appreciate the hard work that has gone into the whole timing element of this production.

There was hardly a time tonight when I did not either have a smile on my face or was laughing. Such is the wit of Stoppard, the sharp direction, and the comedy talents of this cast.

Read the original article here.