EHOS United through theatre

STORY

All Rene Artois desires is to be left alone to run his cafe and chase his waitresses, Yvette and Mimi. Unfortunately his wife Edith and the outbreak of war puts paid to his plans. Add to that the increasing number of parties interested in the painting of the Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies, a fair dollop of 'good moaning' and a not so discrete radio for contacting British Intelligence and you have an evening of hilarious entertainment.

WHEN AND WHERE

Thursday 19th - Saturday 21st March 2009
The Victoria Hall, Bury Road, Old Harlow, CM17 0ED

Friday 25th - Saturday 26th September 2009
Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts, EN11 8BE

CAST

Directed by Daniel Goode

GALLERY

REVIEWS

Zut alors! It's one 'allo of a success
The Harlow Star

'ALLO, 'ALLO - East Herts Operatic Society, Victoria Hall Theatre, Old Harlow

FOOLING around with British comedy institutions isn’t always such a good idea – as Messers Ross and Brand recently found out, you’re more than likely to incur the wrath of those who still hold said icons fiercely close to their nostalgic hearts.

So when a local amateur dramatics company decides to take the bull by the horns and tackle one of the most popular sitcoms ever created, the prospect is naturally met with a certain degree of trepidation.

But the moment Nigel Fruin bumbles on stage in a flurry of nervous excitement and double entendres as everyone’s favourite wartime café owner, Rene Artois, any fears the raunchy humour of the original show would fall flat on stage are immediately dispelled.

Follically challenged Fruin bears an uncanny resemblance to his TV counterpart Gordon Kaye, and the sizzling chemistry between the randy café owner and his pneumatic barmaid Yvette (Helen Fruin) is naturally given extra spice by virtue of the fact the pair are husband and wife off-stage.

But what of the supporting cast, who each had such important roles to play in the TV series?

Officer Crabtree (David Cousins) effortlessly won the audience over with a cursory “Good moaning”, camp German Lieutenant Hubert Gruber (played by director Daniel Goode) was outrageously fey and flirtatious, master of d isguise Leclerc was played with genuine relish by George Dabbs, and Michelle of the Resistance (Lacey Cousins) was typically feisty and fun.

Ian Prosser gave a pitch-perfect performance as self-deluded Italian ladies’ man Alberto Bertorelli, Helen Storey was simply sizzling as domineering fraulein Helga Geerhardt, and Rhonda Tipple was a picture of sexual frustration as Rene’s understandably neurotic and long-suffering wife Edith.

The storyline, of course, revolved around the painting of the fallen Madonna with ze big boobies, a priceless artwork stolen by the Germans and hidden in Rene’s café to be sold on after the war.

But it’s not just the local German officers who covet the painting – Rene, Edith, Michelle, Captain Bertorelli and even Hitler all see it as a post-war goldmine and are desperate to secure it for themselves.

When news that the Fuhrer himself is set to pay a visit to Rene’s humble café to be presented with the painting, a series of ludicrous plots are hatched among the back-stabbing Germans and randy French to impersonate Hitler and claim the priceless work for themselves – leading to a hilariously frantic final scene where no fewer than three Hitlers appear on stage at the same time.

Crammed with booming belly laughs, priceless one-liners, enormous German sausages and frankly ridiculous aachsents, EHOS’s seamless stage adaptation of a bona fide comedy classic was a genuine triumph.
Chris Moss

Listen carefully, we will play zis only once
The Harlow Star

AN amateur dramatics society will be greeting their audiences with a "good moaning" when they revisit the TV sitcom 'Allo 'Allo at Old Harlow's Victoria Hall Theatre.

Closely based on the format of the much-loved BBC comedy, East Herts Operatic Society's acclaimed show follows the hilarious exploits of randy French café owner René Artois in his quest to hide a painting of "ze fallen Madonna wiv ze big boobies" from corrupt German and Italian officers during the Second World War.

Featuring all of the main characters from the original show, including undercover policeman Crabtree, resistance operative Michelle and raunchy barmaid Yvette, the play promises to remain faithful to its inspiration.

EHOS chairman Daniel Goode said: "This is a quintessential English favourite. The cast are having so much fun recreating the classic characters, rehearsals often descend into fits of giggles.

"We hope that our audiences will have as much fun watching as we had in putting it together!"