Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served? is a fun little romp of a show, based on the TV series of the same name. In Stirling Players’ production, the character recreation is so strong that there are gasps of recognition as each new character arrives.

Act One is set in Grace Brothers Department Store, as we reacquaint ourselves with the characters from the popular 70s British TV show. Peter Neaves is likeable as pompous Mr Rumbold, Bob Charteris nicely inhabits rough-round-the-edges store-man Mr Mash and David Gribble is appropriately upright and uptight as Captain Peacock. Peter Boylan nicely plays the physical comedy of Mr Grainger, Owen Phillips is cheeky and charming as Mr Lucas and Sean Bullock lights up the stage with the ultimate in camp performances as Mr Humphries.

Roxanne O’Connor nails Miss Brahms’ cockney accent and verve, while Jenny Wrenn quickly wins audience favour as the iconic Mrs Slocombe. David Young makes only a brief appearance as Young Mr Grace, but perfectly embodies the role. Virginia Moore Price is picture perfect as his lithe young nurse.

In Act 2, many of the gang travel to Spain on a subsidised holiday. Bob Charteris pulls double duty as hotelier Don Bernardo, Virginia Moore Price finds a great deal of sexiness doubling as hotel employee Conchita. Revolutionaries Caesar and Taeresa are played with energy by Mason Kemp and Melissa Cruickshank. Michael Watson adds some excellent puppeteering skills.

Director Andrew Watson’s set design includes a huge mid-show set change and some great little elements including an elevator stuck between floors, and lovely use of shadow work in the tents (kudos also to Ian Wilson’s lighting design). Alison Goodwin has done excellent work with the costumes, especially the faithful recreations of the ladies’ uniforms and the fun choices for Mr Humphries.

The show is predictable, and that is part of its charm, with the audience able to guess the responses at times. The second act is very demanding and doesn’t quite meet the racing pace needed for perfect farce, but it remains entertaining and good fun.

Great to see sell-out houses throughout the season. The audience is clearly having a ball, and love the time trip and humour. As Young Mr Grace would say, “You’ve all done very well."

Kimberley Shaw