We've all done it!
That is, we've all purchased something through the mails. More than once we've gotten the wrong item. Few of us, though, purchased stemware and receive pornography. Alas, Francis and Peter Hunter (Carolyn E. Wheat and Frank Remiatte) did just that in Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot's hilarious farce, No Sex Please, We're British, the current offering at PowPAC.
Peter and Francis live above the bank where he is assistant manager. As with any well-written farce, every attempt to squelch the ever-increasing flow of packages is met with disaster. Brian Runnicles (Brian P. Evans), the bank's chief cashier, immediately becomes responsible for the disposal of the unwanted prurient material. Needless to say his success rate is miserable.
Even as movies (remember 8mm and 16mm film?) and books arrive, so does Peter's mother Eleanor (Lois Jane Miller) come for a visit. Peter's straight-arrow boss, Leslie Bromhead (Jeff Laurence), becomes involved. Quickly the police, in the guise of Superintendent Vernon Paul (Bob Christiansen), are investigating. Craig McCobb, as both a mailman and delivery man, is the deliverer of said materials.
If only (for their sake) it ended there; but this is farce. An up-tight bank inspector, Mr. Needham (Rob Conway) ends up in the apartment. This should be enough. It isn't! Susan and Barbara (Holly Stephenson and Debbie David), two sex workers, replete with proper costumes, whips, and such to entertain the most discriminating customer, create a new complexity.
Director Raylene J. Wall, no stranger to comedy, provides her audience with perfect comedic timing from an excellent cast. Wall and co-set designer Joel Colbourn have created a many-doored set, typical of British farce, which allows for the complex action to take place. Wall, along with Jamie Haire, manages to get the cast on and off the set, through the right door or stairwell perfectly. Wheat added to her performance duties by designing the sound and, with Wall, designing costumes and properties. Peter McGuiness has created a believable, almost shadowless, lighting design.
No Sex Please, We're British is, of course, all about sex, but, being British, is just terribly discrete and purely entertaining. The English accents here are light -- a necessity to insure that the fast-paced humor is not missed. Also, this experienced cast serve their lines straight, letting the humor flow flawlessly. Other times, I've witnessed an actor laugh at his or her own line, spoiling the humor. This cast is simply too professional to let that happen.
