Reviews

The Mystery of Irma Vep (Sheringham)

It’s probably the daftest bit of theatrical hokum you’re likely to encounter either side of the panto season – but it’s also great, let-your-hair-down fun.

Anne Morley-Priestman

For a start, Lady Irma Vep is dead. Her portrait however dominates the manor to which Egyptologist Lord Edgar Hillcrest has brought his new bride. Enid is a former actress, which doesn't go down well with the below-stairs staff.

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So what? you might well ask. Seems like any other gothic mystery from The Monk through Rebecca, The Mummy and beyond. Well, it's the most successful satirical take on all aspects of the horror genre written by US actor, director and playwright Charles Braun Ludlam (1943-87).

Quite apart from all the "send up" jokes at least all the eight-plus parts are taken by just two male actors. In Warren S Cathrine's new production for the Sheringham Little Theatre's summer rep season these are Richard Keightley and Ryan Starling. And very funny they are too, vocally on a range from high soprano down to light baritone a wigs, costumes and genders change at a bewildering rate.

The audience is on-side from Starling's first appearance as feather-duster wielding houskeeper Jane, only to be upstaged by Starling's ringleted Enid. We also meet booted and trigger-happy Lord Edgar and an unwelcome intruder (Starling) as well as a peg-legged factotum and the slimiest of tomb guardians (Keightley).

A remarkably busy stage management provides the occasional arm or leg, not to mention a dummy Enid and a wolf (which may, or not, be a werewolf). Oh yes, and the over-mantel portraits do very strange things from time to time (Kees Van Woerkom is the designer for all these ingenuities).

The Mystery of Irma Vep runs at the Little Theatre, Sheringham until 6 September.