[T]heatre by the Lake’s first production of the Summer Season, the mad-cap and gloriously silly Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, is currently in rehearsals with the first performance coming up on 24 May.
The play is by the Goodale Brothers, adapted from P.G. Wodehouse’s The Code of the Woosters. It first premiered in 2013 at Richmond Theatre, before transferring to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End where it won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Theatre by the Lake’s production is directed by Philip Wilson, who directed 2017’s After the Dance, and features Thomas Richardson, Theo Fraser Steele and James Duke.
When aristocratic man-about-town Bertie Wooster is called on to play matchmaker and inadvertently steals an antique silver cow-creamer, his ever dependable valet Jeeves is on hand to step in and save his bacon. Featuring an array of unforgettable characters played by just three actors, Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense is an inventive and totally bonkers send-up of P.G. Wodehouse’s iconic double act.
Philip Wilson, the show’s director, said: “I am thrilled to be returning to Theatre by the Lake – and although I had a wonderful time last summer directing After The Dance, I am really enjoying rehearsing a comedy this year! And what a comedy: the Goodale brothers have managed not only to encapsulate the spirit – and the gloriously convoluted plot – of P.G. Wodehouse’s original story, but they have also interwoven elements of farce (lots of door slamming), plus some fiendishly quick changes, a dollop of cross-dressing… and some hilarious set pieces. It’s not easy, though: in fact, it’s very tricky, technically – verbally, physically, and in terms of the design.
Fortunately, I have in Thomas Richardson (Bertie), Theo Fraser Steele (Jeeves – and others) and James Duke (Seppings – and many others!) a terrific trio with boundless energy, bottomless inventiveness and great comic timing. Meanwhile, the creative team have come up with some fantastic solutions to the play’s many demands, and the team at TBTL are attacking the costume plot and props list – everything from a gramophone to a rain stick… and a rubber duck! I can’t wait to share the story with audiences.”
Of the show’s cast, Theo is new to Theatre by the Lake, with Thomas having performed most recently in the 2016 Summer Season, and James having performed in the 2012 and 2014 Summer Seasons. They will also be performing in Single Spies (from 14 June) and Sense and Sensibility (from 9 August), with the plays running in rep until the end of the season.
Jeeves & Wooster plays in Theatre by the Lake’s Main House from 24 May to 27 October (in rep with Single Spies, Sense and Sensibility, Rails and Bold Girls). Tickets are from £10; for more information and to book tickets visit www.theatrebythelake.com or call the box office on 017687 74411.
