PEOPLE trying to see Wokingham Theatre’s latest farce are having to beg, borrow and steal to get hold of a ticket.
The Game’s Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays) by Ken Ludwig is a fast moving Christmas farce currently delighting borough audiences
The theatre’s December show is always popular with patrons, but this one sold out weeks ago and is proving to be a big hit.
A dangerous production for any journalist to visit, as audiences will find out, it was nevertheless delightfully entertaining for this local reporter, who is now on the hunt for a ticket to see it again.
Farce is not the easiest of styles to get right, but this company has grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and run with it in the best possible way.
The Game’s Afoot’s very capable cast presents hysterically funny moments as characters have to deal with impossible situations while attempting to maintain social decorum.
Asked why he chose to direct The Game’s Afoot, Martin Kempton said: “It’s a very funny combination of comedy and murder mystery – two of the two most popular forms of theatre.
“It’s fast-paced with razor-sharp dialogue and very funny physical comedy.
“But it is also a genuinely clever murder mystery, with twists and turns and of course all the things we expect in that type of play.
“We have murders, a body to be hidden, and a cast of possible suspects all staying in the same house for Christmas.”
Once again the theatre FARTS (Friends and Relations of the Theatre) responsible for many now-almost-legendary stages, have produced a clever and innovative set.
Faithful to Martin’s beautiful design, it also benefits from his lighting expertise, offering some delightful visual surprises for audiences.
Martin said: “The play posed several technical challenges, but thanks to the skill and experience of the backstage team at WT, these were all overcome.”
He was for many years a professional lighting designer on numerous professional shows, including The Goes Wrong Show, Inside No. 9, Not Going Out, and Upstart Crow.
These days Wokingham Theatre enjoys the benefits of his creative talents.
He said: “Most important, of course, is getting the right cast, and I was so lucky to have a team of superb actors who clearly love being part of this production – I think their enthusiasm really shows in their performances.
“I love directing comedy, so working with actors who have a gift for it is really exciting.
“I was able to devise comic business with them that they instinctively understood and developed, and there are parts of the play that we all continued to laugh at right through the weeks of rehearsal.”
A new soundscape of music has been written specially for the production.
“One of the things I have been particularly fortunate with is having music created by Hope Lawrence,” Martin continued.
“She has taken a string quartet by Beethoven and adapted it, composing and recording pieces that fit the action of the play perfectly.
“It enhances the drama, just like a film score.”
The Game’s Afoot is a real Christmas treat.
The advice to anyone with a ticket is hang on to it at all costs – except if you happen to meet this journalist, who will be very happy to take it off your hands.
It’s on at Wokingham Theatre until Saturday, December 14.
The show starts at 7.45pm, and tickets are now sold out.
For information, visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
