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Break an arm, darling

Jan 30 2008 By John Slim

SEE HOW THEY RUN

Hall Green Little Theatre

TWO outstanding performances do not enable Philip King's very funny farce to sustain the momentum that is needed throughout.

Jaz Davison, making her acting debut with the group, achieves a remarkable delivery and some fascinating facial expressions as the perpetually affronted and eventually inebriated Miss Skillon.

Her scene when she is alone with Leslie Jukes - a splendid Rev Humphrey with his arm in a sling after breaking it on opening night - is a joy, with both players giving it their all.

Helen Johnson does much in maintaining the general air of desperation as Penelope Toop, wife of Robert Levis's Rev Lionel, who capers convincingly in his long johns as mayhem finally sets in at the vicarage.

But I was not persuaded by Philip Astle's American GI and Ruth Turnbull's maid has her best moments right at the beginning.

Melvyn Hulme's production runs until Saturday.

VERDICT:***

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