• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Habeas Corpus

Review

Timeless Study of Human Condition

It’s nothing but sex, sex, sex – well, I’m not having it.

So says Lady Rumpers – she with the delicious daughter Felicity – in Alan Bennett’s funny/sad 1973 play.

It was written as a satire on the moral hypocrisy exposed by the permissive society, and in that sense it is dated.

But it is timeless in its study of self-absorbed humans seeking love and fighting the clock.

In HumDrum’s production, Peter Colley heads the cast with authority, both conveying Dr Wicksteed’s world-weariness and delivering a punchline, comic or tragic, with perfect timing.

Similarly, Paul Comparini as Sir Percy Shorter displays a wonderful way of underlining a phrase with a facial contortion.

But the cosiness of the arts centre seems at times to inhibit some of the cast, so they don’t play as ‘big’ as they might.

Director James George carries off the element of stylisation effectively – in the verse passages, the interjections of song-and-dance, the speeches direct to audience and the synchronised gestures.

A sparse setting is cleverly used and the lighting of Felicity (Gemma Valler) as she disrobes behind a screen can only be called felicitous.

Mike Allen - The News