| Birmingham Evening Mail |
| Timewarp wonder works well
ALAN Ayckbourn's clever confrontation with time is bandied virtually impeccably by an accomplished company. Characters find themselves intermittently travelling backwards or forwards between 1980, 2000 and 2020, always in the same hotel and what happens as a result is a joy of ingenuity. Whether we could decide which warp we were watching without the script's occasional clues does not matter. This is an offering by the master of imaginative invention and it simply asks us to sit back and enjoy it. Briony Cook and Sandra Tudor lead the action unerringly, and Vivienne Cole joins them in a balcony scene which will undoubtedly become recognised as one of the great set-pieces of theatrical comedy. Paul Thomson - who gives the audience the fright of its life and Richard Wharton give excellent support, and Ross Workman gives his hotel detective overtones of John Cleese in a joyous performance. Martin Drury's first-class production concludes its run tomorrow. John Slim |
| Worcester Evening News |
| Play is a rollercoaster, rip-roaring success
HOW many times have you heard people say you never know what's around the corner? For Poopay, a dominatrix accustomed to receiving payment for her specialist services, nothing could prepare her for the events that follow a seemingly run-of-the-mill call to a gentleman named Reece. She finds herself caught up in a web of murder and deceit but as events start to spin out of control it becomes apparent that she has the power to change things. This Alan Ayckbourn play is a time travel teaser, which requires a suspension of belief. But it is such an amusing and intriguing rollercoaster of a play that the audience laps up every bizarre twist and turn. All The Nonentities actors are superb but special mention must be made of Paul Thomson as Julian, the sinister scheming cad, whose evil plotting must be stopped. And the most amazing performance came from Briony Cook as Poopay. She was incredibly brave to spend a large chunk of the performance clad in a PVC outfit. And her vibrant yet at times vulnerable portrayal of a woman inexperienced in such a bewildering set of circumstances was an absolute joy to watch. I don't think I'll ever forget one scene when she and others end up in terrible danger while trying to rid themselves of the loathsome Julian. It was a scene, which would give any Carry On film a rum for its money. Tina Faulkner |