It would be a criminal shame to miss this play

THERE’S a clever concept at play in the latest production from the midas-like Mischief Theatre team.

The all-conquering theatre company who have blazed something of a trail through theatreland with the awardwinning The Play That Goes Wrong and filmic stage treat Mischief Movie Night, are also the brains behind this latest West End hit.

The ploy is simple: pack this crime caper so full of gags, ideas and slapstick that you are duty bound to go and see it a second or third time to be sure you’ve witnessed the full splendour of this breathtaking romp in all its glory.

Described as Ocean’s Eleven meets the Marx Brothers, the title of the production is the only clue as to what you can expect as there are so many hilarious twists and comic turns it could leave you with twisted blood – if you weren’t laughing so much.

The story centres around the plot to steal a priceless diamond which has been entrusted to the city bank, an institution so corrupt that even the security guards are on the take. Can it be safely stored or will it all go horribly wrong?

Set in Massachusetts during the 1950s with a killer soundtrack of rock ’n’ roll favourites, you soon learn that nothing is as it seems and everybody in this town has an angle.

However, the good news is that by the end of the night you won’t feel at all cheated by a show that hits hard on the gag ratio, uses brilliantly choreographed slapstick and sublime creative innovation – the scene set above the bank manager Mr Freeboys’ office is perfectly constructed – to deliver a production that will leave you laughing from first minute to last.

It would be wrong to pick out stars from an ensemble cast who are poetry in comedic motion. Despite the oft repeated phrase “everybody in this town is a crook”, it would be criminal to miss it.

The Play About A Bank Robbery runs until today. Find out more at www. newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

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