Charley’s Aunt – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Director: Braham Murray
Reviewer: Malcolm Wallace
The Public Reviews Rating: 
What a season it’s been for the Royal Exchange! After a series of triumphant productions the season closes with yet another hit, the irresistibly silly and eternally popular farce, Charley’s Aunt.
It’s hard to believe that this play is 118 years old. It has aged tremendously well and this new production at the Royal Exchange retains the freshness and vitality that Brandon Thomas’s script is renowned for.
Set in and around Oxford University the story concerns undergraduates Charley Wykeham (Brodie Ross) and Jack Chesney (Jack Farthing) as they endeavour to find a chaperone to accompany their planned lunch with the objects of their affection Amy Spettigue (Sarah Ovens) and Kitty Verdun (Annabel Scholey). With the imminent arrival of Charley’s Aunt, Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, a rich widow from Brazil (“where the nuts come from”) whom Charley has never met their plan seems foolproof. However when the aunt fails to arrive they persuade their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley (Oliver Gomm) to impersonate her and, inevitably, chaos ensues.
Director Braham Murray should be commended for ensuring the action is, at all times, fast paced and energetic. He is well served by set designer Johanna Bryant whose sumptuous set looks glorious and creates a busy but effective space for the peformers to work in. Likewise the costumes look as though real thought and effort has been taken to ensure they fit snugly into the production as a whole.
The cast are universally excellent with particular note to Stephen Hudson as butler Brassett and his wickedly dry delivery. Also impressive is Malcolm Rennie as Lord Spettigue, a role that requires versatility and a foghorn voice that Rennie possesses in abundance. But star of this production is Gomm as Lord Fancourt Babberley aka Charley’s Aunt. It’s a tour de force of a performance that never falters for a moment and he is a joy to watch from start to finish particularly during the piano scene in act three which is side splittingly funny
With three short acts, each funnier than the last, Charley’s is a perfect summer treat and is guaranteed to bring tears of laughter to your eyes and joy to your heart.
It’s pure escapism and should not be missed!
Photo: Jonathan Keenan – Runs until 7th August
Tags: Annabel Scholey, Braham Murray, Brandon Thomas, Brodie Ross, Charley's Aunt, Jack Farthing, Malcolm Rennie, Manchester, Oliver Gomm, Royal Exchange, Sarah Ovens, Stephen Hudson
10:43 am on July 10th, 2010
Wonderful play – accidentally clicked rating of 2 when meant to click 5 which has brought the overall score down! Sorry
10:59 pm on August 4th, 2010
Not awful, but totally ruined by Gomm’s over-reliance on funny voices and walks to get cheap laughs. And if you’ve got the temerity to openly rip-off Eric Morecambe’s piano sketch, at least get basic things like the timing right (its on video so you can watch it over and over til you get it right).
12:13 am on August 8th, 2010
This play is hilariously funny and the whole cast were brilliant especially Oliver Gomm. It’s hard to believe the play is 118 years old as it felt quite fresh and modern.. A must to you to brighten your day! 5*
1:11 am on August 8th, 2010
Oliver Gomm was exceptionally brilliant as Charlie’s Aunt in this fantastically funny play, I haven’t laughed so much in ages!
4:14 pm on August 12th, 2010
Absolutely amazing play. Oliver Gomm played his part as Charley’s Aunt to perfection – he was entertaining and made the whole play really enjoyable. Lots of funny bits – especially when he has to get back into the dress! Amazing! 5***