Review: RAISING MARTHA, Park Theatre

Gerry has been harassed for years by Animal Rights activists, who want to close down his frog farm (which he has secretly converted to a marijuana and cane toad production facility) and, when his brother is summoned by Inspector Clout to discuss the activists' latest stunt - exhuming their mother's bones - things start to get a bit crazy. Meanwhile, all is not well in the cell - leader Jago is lording it over dogsbody Marc, who is keener on liberating Caro's libido than frogs, but she has motivations of her own.

David Spicer has written a grand old farce that is at once contemporary and traditional - you half expect to see Swampy in a cameo and half expect the village vicar to walk in, trousers at half mast. The laughs keep coming - with some abuse to punning far worse than anything perpetrated on the frogs - but, crucially, the story is wholly engaging and, caricatured though they are, every character is just about credible. One or two barbs about the nebulous nature of rights hit home too - a punch or two complementing the punchlines. There's no really new ground broken in structure nor story, but it's great fun from start to finish.

Spicer's script is pacily directed by Michael Fentiman on an ingenious set designed by Rebecca Brower, supported by good work from Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs. There's a glossy veneer to the show for all the muck (literal and metaphorical) tossed around. It's a night out without the cost and inconvenience of the West End, one of this theatre's hallmarks.

There's West End quality performances to enjoy too. Stephen Boxer is all world-weary cynicism as Gerry - until he licks a toad or two and the hallucinogenic secretions kick in. Julian Bleach prefers the bottle for his kicks as his angry brother, Bleach's long face and laconic delivery perfect for the role. They're nicely complemented by garrulous policeman Inspector Clout, Jeff Rawle in a mercilessly hammy turn with plenty of fourth wall breaking asides.

Joel Fry gets the tinpot Napoleonic tendencies of cell leader Jago spot on, while poor Tom Bennett is caked in mud throughout, but has a great line in exasperation as lovelorn Marc. Gwyneth Keyworth might benefit from being a little less loud as Caro, but she does well with a part that is somewhat under-written compared to the others.

There's a few plotholes that need skipping over and I'm never sure that intervals do comedies any favours, but one seldom hears so many people laughing so often in a theatre. In January 2017, we need as much laughter as possible.

Raising Martha continues at the Park Theatre until 11 February.

Photo Darren Bell

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