Resistance is useless against a sitcom classic

Café René is now open for bookings with Compass Theatre

LISTEN very carefully, I shall say this only once...

For their next production, Ruislip Dramatic Society will transform the Compass Theatre in Ickenham into the Café René as they prepare to serve up a knockwurst sausage filled with laughs.

The group will be performing ’Allo ’Allo!, the stage version of the long-running hit TV series which has all the ingredients for another hilarious evening from May 18-21.

’Allo ’Allo! the play sees everyone’s favourite characters returning from René’s tone-deaf wife Edith to Gestapo Officer Herr Flick. Co-written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft (the series’ original creators) it has all the magic of the TV programme plus a few extras for the stage outing. In the small town of Nouvien in occupied France, hapless café owner René Artois and his wife Edith are hiding a priceless portrait (‘The Fallen Madonna with the big boobies’) in a knockwurst sausage.

They also have two British airmen concealed in the cellar, trying to get home with the help of the Resistance. But as always, things are not quite going to plan for René, as the German Officers have come to the café in search of the painting and the Fuhrer himself has decided to visit.

’Allo ’Allo remains one of Britain’s best loved sitcoms and was hugely successful running for nine series and a total of 85 episodes. It has been shown in more than 50 countries and spawned many famous catch phrases including “good moaning” and “listen very carefully, I shall say this only once”. The play was also a West End hit which ran for six years with three London runs plus international tours.

Packed with hilarious misunderstandings, mix-ups, and a generous sprinkling of innuendo it is guaranteed to delight both fans and newcomers to the comedy.

The café is now open for bookings, so join the Resistance or experience first-hand the sound of a cabaret night with tickets priced at £12 or £11 concessions.

For further information go to www.ruislip dramatic.org or www. hillingdontheatres.uk.