Reader Reviews
Caught in the Net (Run for your Wife Again) (Vaudeville Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Seria posible conseguir una copia del video o DVD de la obra. Soy de una compaƱia de teatro de aficionados y nos gustaria hacer esta obra de Ray Cooney. Les agradeceria respuesta piquejordi@msn.com - Jordi PiquƩ i Sagrera | 14 May 11 |
| CHEESY! but who doesn't like cheesy? Eric Sykes sometimes looked like he was going to fall over/ I expected the Russ Abbot to start singing about parties with a happy atmosphere and the 2 Kids, provided a nice slice of Ham to add the the whole cheese theme.... I got what I expected, a good old fashioned farce, getting better in the second half - once you've lightened up and enjoy it for what it is, not the greatest mind challenging drama, but a good 'ol laugh. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 20 May 02 |
| I went to see this with a friend and had heard mixed reviews from others, however we both thought it was brilliant and laughed the whole time. We left the theatre in a really good mood and talked about it all the way home. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Apr 02 |
| I went to see it (again.) Still hilariously funny. Farce that works is a delight. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 19 Mar 02 |
| A marvel! Ray Cooney's done it again. Let's throw aside the snobbism and admit that this is hilarious stuff. But let's also stop raving about Eric Sykes. He may be an institution, but he has no place on the West End Stage. It may be part of the fun to some that he can't remember lines (faked lapses for a cheap laugh?) or can't remain in character. But he effectively ruins the show by breaking the fourth wall. This is not the stuff of professional theatre, but cheap bad provincialism. How much better the farce would work with an actor who could hold character rather than playing to geriatric fans who think he's cute. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 19 Mar 02 |
| Having seen Run for Your Wife (at the tender age of 17), I looked forward to this sequel. It didn't disappoint. Ray Cooney's talent is rarely topped. Although nothing to date has beaten the longest period of sustained tear-producing laughter encountered in Noises Off, Caught in the Net came in a close second. The plot structure is completely plausable and the pace, although somewhat too frantic is sufficient to avoid disbelief. I agree that the two 'kids' were just over the top and unconvincing as teenagers (unless they were supposed to be on a cocktail of very strong medication?!) All in all, excellent performances with a special mention for Robert Daws' energy - he should be down to 8 stone by the end of the run. Finally, I know it's farce and sometimes the actors can 'laugh with their lines' but it's ten times funnier when it's PLAYED straight - Eric Sykes was just trying to steal some extra laughs when in fact it distracted me. Far better to be professional I think - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Oct 01 |
| I saw this show on Saturday and enjoyed it, but thought it could have been superb if Robert Daws (John Smith) gave as good a performance as the rest of the cast. At times he displayed all the Brian Rix characteristics without the comic timing to go with it. He was definitely the weakest link in the show. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 05 Oct 01 |
| I was invited to see this new Ray Cooney farce tonight by a friend... (and although I try to keep an open mind when see anything..) after reading the reviews today not only was I ready to dislike/hate the play I ready to be offended by it's homophobic content... Well it wore me down and the mild theatre snob in me is ashamed to admit that I laughed a lot... Yes this is comedy by attrition.. if one daft joke or situation doesn't make you laugh the next one two seconds later might... Of course it helps greatly to have Russ Abbott in a leading role. Not only did I expect not to like the play but I thought that Russ may well annoy the hell out of me but surprisingly he is immensly likeable in the show.. and now the old review cliche pops up - you can't help but laugh (and believe me this comes from as cynical as person about farce as there is on the face of the planet). If you don't know it is the story of a bigamist Taxi driver who has a son from one marriage and daughter from the other.. they chat on the internet and then want to meet in real life... and therefore expose his wrong doings to each family. Of course you have to suspend disbelief pretty much for the whole two hours.. but if you give the show a chance you will find it easy after the first 15 minutes or so... Most of the performances are at least very satisfactory (with the great opportunity to see Eric Sykes who occasionally laughs his lines out and is clearly enjoying every minute...).. The two children are a bit too "stage school" for my taste however.. As for the "Homophobic" content this gay man wasn't in the least bit offended by the jokes because they were more mistaken identity / mistaken sexuality than anything to truely trouble even the most sensitive queen amongst us.. Cheers, Lee - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 31 Aug 01 |
