This is part of a series of shorter reviews from Edinburgh Fringe, August 2024. Unfortunately I could not find the names online of the talented actors in this play – apologies!
From the play written by David and Robert Goodale, based on the 1938 novel by P.G.Wodehouse, Gravedigger Productions’ “Jeeves and Wooster” transports the audience to a country house in the 30s, where idle rich man Bertie Wooster finds himself drawn ever deeper into a tangled web involving stolen police helmets, bathtubs of newts and a silver jug in the shape of a cow.
Whilst the actor portraying Wooster remains as the same character throughout, the other three actors each multi-role, bringing to life a whole range of vibrant, over-the-top characters, including Wooster’s butler Jeeves, his overbearing Aunt Dahlia, his shy newt-loving friend Gussie Fink-Nottle and dopey local bobby Constable Oates. The characters are all portrayed clearly, with smooth transitions between the roles – at times, the same actor was portraying multiple characters onstage at once, a simple turn indicating a switch from one to the other.
The story is complicated and confusing, but that is the intention. Facts and figures and names and numbers are thrown around at such a rate that it will make your head spin, but the easiest way to deal with this is to just go with it. I had been hoping for a lightbulb moment towards the end of the play where different pieces of the puzzle finally dropped into place, but unfortunately this never came, with a final revelation about wannabe dictator Roderick Spode not exactly providing the satisfying ending that was needed.
Overall, this was a fun, family-friendly, fifty minute romp, with plenty of slapstick comedy thrown in amongst the clever wordplay and ridiculous storylines. The knowing look from Jeeves to the audience as Wooster’s story takes further ridiculous turns simply heightens the comedy. Fun and frothy nonsense.
Tom Morley, August 2024
“Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense” has now ended its run at theSpace @ Niddry Street.
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