*Press Tickets* I was invited in to review Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em and received free press tickets in return for an honest review.
The Golden Age of the British Sitcom on television may have come and gone but with the theatre revival of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, it’s fair to say that the Golden Age is making a comeback on our local stages. Written & directed by Guy Unsworth, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em is at The Everyman from 14-18 June 2022.
As a 90s child, sitcom to me means more ‘Friends’ and ‘Will & Grace’ rather than classic 70s shows like ‘The Good Life‘, ‘Fawlty Towers’ and indeed, ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’ and yet for a good two hours at The Everyman in Cheltenham, I was transported to an somehow distant-yet-familiar era and two hours of pure belly-laughs. The TV sitcom may be well over 50 years old, as was much of the audience, but that didn’t mean for one second that that the show was out of date and old. Instead, Joe Pasquale heads a talented cast that will have you giggling at the exploits of poor Frank Spencer, a self-confessed “Dick of all trades”.
“It will leave you mouth-open and crying with laughter”
Watching Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em truly reminded me of contemporary productions like ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ with slapstick humour and physical comedy being at the forefront of the show. There are certainly one or two moments where the pure shock of what mess Frank Spencer has got himself into will leave you mouth-open and crying with laughter. Aside from that, there are some great bits of dialogue between Frank and his wife, Betty. Her clear love for hapless, yet kind, Frank is one of the most heart-warming parts of the show.
The plot is relatable, even in 2022. We see Frank battle with financial worries and a deep desire to not be a failure as Betty announces they are to become parents. Frank’s desperation to succeed for his family is a tale as old as time and it’s one of the things that makes him so likeable, despite his obvious character flaws. Joe Pasquale brings a warmth to the character that makes him so believable too. The rest of the cast do a tremendous job and they all have fantastic chemistry. One moment between Moray Treadwell’s Mr Luscombe and Pasquale’s Frank Spencer left the whole audience in fits of hysterics.
“Irresistibly silly, totally uncomplicated and just pure joy”
Whilst to a younger audience, there are a couple of moments that might not play out as well as they do to an audience with nostalgia of the original sitcom, I fell in love with the characters and the production. I came away from The Everyman with a full heart and very sore cheeks from smiling and laughing all evening, and really is there anything better? It is irresistibly silly, totally uncomplicated, and just pure joy to watch.
To book your tickets to Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, go to The Everyman’s website. Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em is showing in Cheltenham until Saturday 18 June before continuing on its’ national tour. Details of which can be found here.
