A two act comedy by the Constantiaberg Players

HABEAS CORPUS. A comedy by Alan Bennett. Director and set design Nigel Sweet. Lighting Gary Fargher. Presented by Constantiaberg Theatre Players. At the Masque Theatre. November 25 to December 3. SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews.

HABEAS Corpus is medieval Latin literally meaning “you may have the body.” It is “a recourse in law whereby a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment before a court, usually through a prison official.”

However, English playwright Alan Bennett has removed the legal element and written this two-act comedy to refer to the body. Principally the woman’s body, her bust size and its relation to her sexual desirability to men.

Perhaps not the best subject to flaunt as violence against women and girls increases on a daily basis.

This could also perhaps explain why the production didn’t come across as light and amusing as expected.

Another possible contributing factor could be that director Nigel Sweet required several hospital visits during rehearsal period.

Sweet’s programme notes thank Yvonne Copley, an experienced director, as well as the cast, for “holding the fort” during his forced absence. He is wished a complete recovery.

However, on opening night, the unfortunate result was a rather static, under-rehearsed performance, fluffed lines and cues not snappily picked up.

In addition to voices lacking variety, exits and entrances tended to be slow and, with Sweet’s direction lacking movement and pace, too many punch lines were lost.

That said, compliments must go to Jenny Brandt, as Connie for turning her skinny malink figure into a Dolly Parton look-a-like with such good humour; Mark Wilkes for his strong voice and self-important characterisation of Sir Percy Shorter - President of the British Medical Association and Queen’s physician; Barrie Howard for some expressive expressions as twee Canon Throbbing; Rosemary Wilke as Lady Rumpers - ex-colonial returning to the old country,

finding it wanting until finding an ex-lover. Hannah Claassens as Felicity has a comedienne’s talent worth nurturing and once Lynn Moss memorises her words her Mrs Swabb will steal the show - she has the ability to time her clinchers to great effect.

Although this performance disappointed, once the team “settle in” Habeas Corpus will, in all likely hood, be as funny as Alan Bennett intended.

●Book 021 7881898, or bookings@masquetheatre.co.za