The Ladykillers
Bingley Arts Centre
Best known as a classic Ealing Comedy film, The Ladykillers was adapted for the stage by Graham Linehan, the writer of Father Ted and other successful television comedy series.
A gang of criminals rent a room in a lodging house owned by an elderly widow, Mrs Wilberforce. The gang pretend to be musicians as a cover for their planned robbery. Mrs Wilberforce naively becomes embroiled in their plan.
Despite a successful heist, they fall out among themselves, while still trying to keep up their cover.
Lee Russell plays Professor Marcus, the leader of the gang, with panache, and his hapless gang members vary from macabre to gormless. Julie Boldy plays a delightful Mrs Wilberforce, initially delighted to have such a cultured group of lodgers, then shocked when she discovers the truth about them.
Professor Marcus continues to fool her, so tension is maintained.
Like all Ealing comedies, the humour ranges from whimsical to macabre, and the cast do justice to it. A first night audience laughed throughout the entire evening.
Runs until Saturday.
by Lesley Matthews
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