Harborough Theatre is notoriously erratic with the quality of its productions. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's a bit of a slog. Their air conditioning policy doesn't help matter much either, preferring to roast us alive for the sake of the few sitting directly in the flow of the air-con machines. I would gladly exchange seats if it wasn't for the lack of legroom everywhere but the back row.
So, on a warm July evening I was somewhat less than madly enthusiastic about a visit, but thankfully this was one of the best theatre productions I have ever seen. I only found out the day before that this was a comedy version of the famous Hitchcock film, and that could have gone either way. But in the event it was genuinely funny throughout with brilliant performances from the four actors on stage.
The comedy was taken to a whole new level of Spinal Tap proportions though with the farce that was the fire alarm going off after a somewhat OTT use of the dry ice machine. As the alarm sounded, stopped and went off again several times, the audience were left wondering whether or not it was actually part of the performance, especially when we heard a crackling radio message 'What do you want us to do' which brought to mind the moment in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tuffnel's wireless guitar transmitter picks up a local taxi firm.
Eventually the performance was halted while the smoke was cleared, so obviously not part of the show! Thankfully the rest of the night went without a hitch, although it was more than a little 'sticky' and humid in there. Genuinely funny and entertaining throughout, the actors must have rehearsed like crazy to nail all the different parts they had to perform.
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