Two sets of young lovers get caught up in an elaborate pretence in this 130-year old farce that – pre-decimal currency references asides – mostly holds up to modern scrutiny.
The scheming debonair Jack (played by Jeremiah Humphreys-Piercey) and the dozy but sweet Charley (Jamie Radcliffe) are Oxford students besotted by Kitty (Florence Bates) and Amy (Rachel Carney) respectively.
The two women are leaving for a summer in Scotland, driving their suitors to concoct an excuse to meet and propose marriage, with the fortuitous arrival of Charley’s aunt the deus ex machina from Brazil. She may be a wealthy widow he has never met, but a lunch with her is the cover they need to get together with their intendeds.
But when aunty fails to arrive they instead dragoon their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley (Barnaby Matley) into dressing in drag and acting as their chaperone.
Matley is the core of the production and throws himself into the role. His cheeky grin appears early on and seldom disappears, as he dives on to tables, charges about the stage, and puts the funny into the farce.
Radcliffe and Humphreys-Piercey just about keep up, serving to ratchet up the silliness and provide some softer comedy with their stumbling attempts at marriage proposals.
Kevin Oelrichs as the two women’s guardian and Jonathan Cooke as Jack’s father both bring some stupidly funny senior moments as they get dragged into the deceit, with Oelrichs in particular amping up the physical comedy.
Jamie Willmott plays the all-seeing butler Brassett with a beautiful dead pan, and eye rolls that tell you all you need to know.
The female parts are desperately underwritten – except for the cross-dressing Babberley – but Bates and Carney offer fine cameos, as do Amelia Watson as the final love interest Ela and Emma Steggles as the real aunt.
In some ways its an odd choice for a modern production – it’s 20 years since it was last performed at the Sewell Barn and there have been plenty of other farces that have been written since, let alone since 1892. While the scenario and cultural references are very much of its time, the more emotional, human aspects are timeless and transcend the setting. Who hasn’t done something foolish for love?
The end effect is a funny, foolish, fast-paced piece; a little midsummer night’s dream.
- Charley’s Aunt continues at Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich until 19 July 2025.
