Press Releases
Run For Your Wife - 12th - 15th March 2008. critique by Brian Bennett
A weird and totally surreal experience happened to me last week when I paid my first visit to the Priory Theatre at Tynemouth to take in 'Run for your Wife' performed by Whitley Bay Theatre Company. For the chap negociating the ticket sales behind the counter at the box office appeared to be the spitting image of Chris Johnson - who just happened to lead a double life in the principal role of John Smith in Ray Cooney's two act comedy!
My suspicions confirmed, it was Johnson who also led a cast of eight through an hilarious experience delivering quick and witty off the cuff ripostes as he attempted to dig himself out of a self imposed and almighty hole in the ground! Whilst Johnson took centre stage - and an amazing split stage it was - Joanna Wingate and Lisa Bond as Mary and Barbara Smith respectively - the two women fighting for pride of place in Smith's life - played their parts to the full.
The role of Stanley Gardner - Smith's accomplice - was played with authenticity by Roy Boulton and George Knox as Dt Sgt Porterhouse also joined in the fun and frolics. However, even Johnson had to concede to being upstaged on the night by the volume of laughter generated by the audience, who immediately warmed to the performance of Steven Thompson who magnificently portrayed the camp Bobby Franklyn - yellow marigold gloves and all! Martyn Harbertson - who only stepped into the breach to take the role of Dt Sgt Troughton four weeks before the first curtain up - was not only perfect in the part but also had the closing punchline to the production whilst Maureen Lejk had a cameo role as a reporter.
The only disappointing feature on the night, was that the auditorium was merely half full - a great shame after it was quite apparent that the cast and backstage crew, led by assistant director and stage manager Robin Herron had devoted a lot of hours of hard work.
Chris Johnson had every right to puff out his cheeks at the final curtain call after the exacting role of John Smith - but the appreciativeness of the audience surely told him that it was all worthwhile.