Tudor Players’ Keeping Up Appearances – 18 February 2025, Library Theatre

Review by Sue Curr.

Bringing an iconic show such as “Keeping Up Appearances” to life onstage is no mean feat. Especially when the bar has not only previously been set so high given the beloved status of the original TV sitcom but was equally one of British televisions most successful series of it’s time.

In order to successfully bring “Keeping Up Appearances” to life both the director and cast face the challenge of balancing the show’s signature humour, heart, and eccentric village charm, whilst at the same time ensuring that the comedic dynamic isn’t lost in its transition to live theatre and in this instance ….The Tudor Players managed to do this seamlessly.

This particular production is blessed with a particularly strong, talented cast. One in which quite simply put there were no “weak links”.

Edwina Gascoyne as Hyacinth Bucket had the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of the original Hyacinth, Dame Patricia Routledge but within seconds of her stepping onto the stage last night, Edwina very quickly secured her place as not only a very credible Hyacinth in her own right but as an actress who on any given day could stand proudly as an equal alongside any “professional Mrs Bucket” and whilst, no “imitation” could fully capture the original, Edwina delivered a charismatic and engaging performance which captured not only the audience’ undivided attention but the true essence of Hyacinths character perfectly.

The small but very strong supporting cast brought the quirky villagers to life very adeptly with the standout for me being Ross Bannister, who in playing Emmet, had clearly called on and utilised his considerable acting experience to create a characterisation which portrayed him perfectly as the stressed out, neurotic, hyper sensitive, ever so slightly unhinged Emmet. In short his performance was practically perfect in every way.

There’s an old but perfectly true adage in theatre that, there are no small parts in any production only small actors…I think it fair to say that, it was clear that every single cast member of this production, under the expert guidance of Director Phil Gascoyne not only knew and portrayed their characters perfectly, they did so with an aplomb worthy of a cast of professional actors.

The static set design effectively captured the cosy, small-town atmosphere, with well-placed props and lighting that enhanced the production’s warm, inviting tone. However, there were odd moments where scene transitions felt sluggish, slightly disrupting the pacing of the show. Additionally, while many of the show’s most beloved comedic moments landed well, some of the humour llacked the same impact outside of its original TV format. That said, the audience’s laughter and engagement last night, showed that much of the script’s charm had not only remained intact but was delivered in a way that was relatable and realistic.

Overall, this production of Keeping Up Appearances delivered an enjoyable evening of nostalgic humour and heartfelt moments. While a tighter pace and slight refinements to comedic delivery could have elevated the performance further, the cast’s dedication and the play’s enduring charm made for a thoroughly entertaining experience and I for one would highly recommend that anyone looking to have an enjoyable night at the theatre this week. You should definitely grab a ticket, sit back, relax and enjoy “Keeping Up Appearances” whilst you can.