I do like a trip to the theatre, and thankfully so does my 15-year-old. She is particularly fond of musical theatre, so when we were invited to East Riding Theatre in Beverley to see Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, I thought it would be a good opportunity to introduce her to something a little bit different.
No singing. No big musical numbers. No dramatic dance routines.
Just a lot of utter nonsense.
And, actually, it was rather good fun!
Jeeves, Wooster and a whole lot of nonsense
Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense is based on the works of P.G. Wodehouse and was adapted for the stage by Robert Goodale and David Goodale. It follows the adventures of the gloriously hapless Bertie Wooster, who finds himself caught up in a complicated collection of schemes, relationships and general disasters, with his much more capable valet Jeeves on hand to try and sort everything out.
Calling it a farce is probably the easiest way to describe it.
It is fast, silly and deliberately ridiculous, with the actors throwing themselves into an ever-changing collection of characters and situations. There are comedy moustaches, lampshades, various disguises and, rather wonderfully, a cow creamer.
A lot of the fun comes from the way the story is brought to life. There are only three actors (and a lovely stagehand), with the cast having to switch between characters at speed. This means that the audience gets to see some brilliantly silly costume changes and plenty of physical comedy along the way.
There were lots of moments where I was laughing simply because of the sheer ridiculousness of what was happening on stage.
Is it suitable for teenagers?
Well, yes – with a small caveat. My daughter is 15 and loves theatre, but she mostly watches musicals and isn’t particularly familiar with P.G. Wodehouse. Some of the dialogue was quite hard for her to follow, particularly when the characters got into long, very Wodehouse-ish conversations. But then, that’s Wodehouse for you!
There is a lot of old-fashioned language, complicated plotting and characters talking at length about things which seem increasingly ridiculous. I understood a bit more of it than she did, although I’m not claiming I understood all of it!
That didn’t really matter though. Even when she wasn’t following every detail of the plot, there was plenty going on visually to keep her entertained.
There are funny costumes, ridiculous props, characters rushing about and some wonderfully silly physical comedy. You don’t necessarily need to understand every single word to enjoy watching the chaos unfold. And sometimes, when you’re watching theatre with a teenager, that’s good enough!
East Riding Theatre, Beverley
We’ve visited East Riding Theatre a few times now, including for Little Women and A Dickens of a Christmas, and it is one of those theatres that I always enjoy coming back to. It is a lovely little theatre in Beverley, with a much more intimate feel than some of the larger regional theatres.
It also turns out to be pretty much the perfect place for a show set in the world of Jeeves and Wooster.
The theatre itself has a lovely old-fashioned atmosphere and character, and the décor and general vibe suit the 1920s setting beautifully. You can imagine Bertie Wooster wandering in at any moment, probably having got himself into some sort of trouble that Jeeves will subsequently have to get him out of. There is something particularly nice about seeing a period comedy in a theatre which already feels as though it belongs in that period.
The theatre is also a good size for this sort of production. You’re close enough to the action to really appreciate all the little details, particularly the costumes, expressions and wonderfully silly props.
The cafe-bar is lovely too!
Our verdict
Would I recommend Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense to families with older children and teenagers?
Yes – particularly if they enjoy comedy, theatre and watching actors completely throw themselves into something.
If your teenager is expecting a musical, this is definitely something different. My daughter didn’t understand everything that was going on, but she still had a good time, and I certainly did.
It is silly, chaotic, occasionally baffling and completely bonkers.
In other words, it’s Perfect Nonsense – and that’s rather the point!
Disclosure: We were guests of East Riding Theatre for this performance. All opinions are our own.