THEATRE REVIEWS

The carpets fit so well as they support limestone and coal for Northern Broadsides latest offering. Barry Rutter enjoys himself being a scheming scoundrel called, amongst other things, Arthur Dodge. He is supported admirably by this accomplished company of actors who seem to be able to do anything. Their singing delights, as they go about giving forth their words whilst going about their tasks, trying to make money and gain the favours of the women.

Set in the north of England, we see this cast of talented actors transform this play by Carlos Goldoni into Blake Morrison's modern adaptation of "A Servant of Two Masters". Set by a north Yorkshire canal, Leslie Travers the designer does just enough to let you get the feeling of the time and place before it is broken up, put in a lorry and taken to its next venue.

In words that today's audience can understand, this melodrama with a humorous bent, or if you prefer, farce and muddle, follows the lives of an out of work man going through every opportunity that arises, getting him into all sort of scrapes which his tongue is able to get him out of. To do this he has to come across two masters fool enough to take him on. One being Charles, alias Charlotte Ramsey (Kate Ambler), the other being Frank Flowers (Simon Holland Roberts) who vie for his time whilst trying to find each other. The other romance is between Clarice (Victoria Fleming), daughter of farmer Samuel Towler (Dicken Ashworth) and Stephen (Matt Connor) son of the Rev. Lumb (Roy North). Add some interest for Arthur Dodge in the shape of Esme Dean (Nicola Sanderson) housekeeper to the Towlers; set it in the inn run by Bill Beckwith (Simeon Truby) and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining evening at the theatre. The dinner is a delight to watch. The music by Simeon Truby and lyrics by Blake Morrison are just right.