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Balmoral, written by David Frayn, is an anarchic comedy stretching the boundaries of the wildest imagination. The revolution of 1917 didn’t happen in Russia but here in Britain, society is turned upside down and Balmoral, the most royal of residences has been commandeered as a writers’ commune under the strict management of Skinner, the warden.

Steve McNeil plays the somewhat mealy mouthed Skinner with just the right amount of nitpicking attention to detail, going over his books, counting the cutlery, fighting a losing battle trying to keep the writers in order and always suspecting the butler, McNab, of stealing. The said writers are Godfrey Winn, Warwick Deeping, Enid Blyton and Hugh Walpole, leading literary lights of their time.

A Government inspector is expected and Skinner wants the place in apple-pie order, but everything goes against him. Hugh Walpole cannot be found and Godfrey Winn decides to steal his room because it’s the only warm room in the house. All hell breaks loose and comedy becomes farce with hilarious consequences.

Andy Gray plays the Scottish butler the taciturn McNab, clumping about the place in wellingtons and a kilt who is persuaded to impersonate Walpole (I’m not giving away why but suffice it to say there is a body in the trunk without which no self-respecting farce could function!) to impress a visiting Russian journalist and his guide, who they’ve mistaken for the inspector. Andy Gray gives a marvellous performance and the theatre rocked simply rocked with laughter.

The cast is first class, Jeremy Child plays Wawick Deeping as the gentle mannered man that he was, Alison Skilbeck has a handle on Enid Blyton and gives her a bit of sauce (remember her poems) and Robert Hands plays Godfrey Winn, the housewives favourite columnist of the time, with a perky youthfulness. And not to forget Gyuri Sarossy’s Russian journalist, full of fire and passion, especially for his beautiful young guide, Trisha, played by Katie McGuinness.

As reported in the Press, unfortunately Rik Mayall had to pull out of the production through illness and if you are a particular fan of his you might think of not coming along. Well, don’t, because you will miss a very funny play and great evening

Jacquie Vowles