Edward Alderton Theatre

It Ain't Half Hot Mum
by David Croft and Jimmy Perry

Directed by Roz Betts

2-11 July 2009 (10 performances)

Fall in for a feast of fun as the boys of the Royal Artillery Concert Party provide their special brand of army camp in this stage version of the popular 1970s sitcom…

Cast
Sergeant Major Williams	John Hart
Gunner Sugden (Lofty)	Clive Madel
Bombardier Beaumont (Gloria)	Ben Cowen
Colonel Reynolds	Tony Donnelly
Captain Ashwood	Mark Campbell
Char Wallah Ranjit	John Hyde
Gunner Parkins (Parky)	Daniel Cox
Gunner Clark (Nobby)	Alex Board
Sergeant Gregory	Jenny McCarthy
Gunner Graham (Paderewski)	Michael Martin
Gunner Mackintosh (Atlas)	Tony Henson
Mohammed	Ron Marsh

Crew
Stage Manager	Liz Gillett
Assistant Stage Manager	Yvonne Golding
Choreography	Jenny McCarthy
Set Design	Roz Betts
Set Construction	John Vinnels, Ron Andrews, Mick Wright, Clark Findlay
Set Decoration	Mick Wright
Properties	Desni Hanford, Roz Betts
Lighting Design & Rig	Jerry McKeon, Christine McKeon, Rebecca Mason, Colin Rayment
Lighting Operation	Colin Rayment
Sound	Ben Laing
Backstage	Desni Hanford

The director would like to give special thanks to Jenny McCarthy for movement and dance, Michael Martin for his special input and direction, and a special mention goes to Paula Henson, and Helen and Richard Banks.

Preview

Just the hot stuff to give the troops

A stage adaptation of popular BBC sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum runs until this Saturday at the Edward Alderton Theatre. Jimmy Perry and David Croft's comedy, set in India during World War II, charts the mishaps of the Royal Artillery Concert Party, a group of British soldiers whose job is to entertain the troops.

Characters include the bombastic Sergeant Major Williams (John Hart), the stiff-upper-lipped Colonel Reynolds (Tony Donnelly) and the lovelorn Captain Ashwood (Mark Campbell), with the native Indian bearer Ranjit (John Hyde) always on hand to help – or hinder. The concert party itself consists of effeminate ‘Gloria’ (Ben Cowen), diminutive Lofty (Clive Madel), dimwitted Parky (Daniel Cox), lumbering Glaswegian Nosher (Tony Henson), upper class 'Mr La Di Da Gunner Graham' (Michael Martin) and sickly Nobby (Alex Board). Sergeant Gregory (Jenny McCarthy) provides some much-needed glamour.

The play, directed by Roz Betts, is at the theatre in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, at 8pm. Tickets are Ł7 from the box office on 020 8301 5584.

Kentish Times | 9 July 2009

Review

Come on now you luverly boys...

There was a rumble in the jungle down at the Edward Alderton Theatre in the hilarious production of Croft and Perry's television sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, writes Steve Spencer. The series, set in India in 1943, chronicles the experiences of a rag-tag collection of soldiers in a Royal Artillery Concert Party who would rather sing, dance and drag up than face the Japanese on the front line. It is essentially a string of sketches, gags and musical numbers loosely tied to a simple plot of a possible British spy (actually a double agent) whose arrival leads to confusion and mayhem with the camp finally bombed by the RAF.

Although the pace of Croft and Perry's script doesn't quite match the equivalence of four tightly written television episodes at just under two hours, there was plenty in Roz Betts' enjoyable and rumbustious production which kept the audience laughing and giggling throughout. The characters were instantly recognisable and the cast - to their huge credit - brought much more to their role, playing with gusto and clearly enjoying the romp as much as we were.

The ever bombastic Sgt Major Williams (John Hart) intimidated the audience as he did the gunners, finding every opportunity to mock and poke fun at them, where turning out for parade in chiffon and a wig was as commonplace as khaki. Upper class twits Colonel Reynolds (Tony Donnelly) and Captain Ashwood (Mark Campbell) were more concerned about putting on a good show than preparing the boys for the front. The camp was ably served by Char Wallah Ranjit (John Hyde) whose Britishness exceeded that of the wet and ineffectual officers.

The finale was a tribute to the American allies and drew on stars from 1940s stage and screen. 'Lofty' Sugden (Clive Madel) sang beautifully; 'Gloria' Beaumont (Ben Cowen) arranged glamorous Hollywood-style dance routines that would have fitted on a postage stamp; Reynolds and Ashwood ironically asked if we could spare a dime; and just about everyone played Jimmy Cagney. The most enduring incongruity had to be Char Wallah Ranjit doing a Fred Astaire routine with both top hat and turban - now that is camp!

What a splendid finale to the current season at the EAT.

Steve Spencer

Kentish Times | 16 July 2009

Feedback

Had to drop a line to say how very much I enjoyed the show on Monday evening. Especially enjoyed Lofty's solos - all the songs I recognised, particularly Sunshine of Your Smile and Whispering Grass. The whole company, in fact - you were terrific! May it continue.

Mollie Hills

Tell your guests I would love it because it is non-PC. I'm sick of PC, I love everything non-PC. I met Windsor Davis a few years ago in a restaurant at Hampton Court. I must have stared because he thundered at me 'Yes it is me,' but he was very friendly.

Liz T Wells [email to BBC Radio Kent]

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