Dirty Dusting

USER (27Jun06): “Dirty Dusting” By Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 26 June 2006 Last night saw the opening of a very funny comedy that is written and performed in the old-fashioned seaside comedy style. There is no doubting that the play which first hit the stage in 2003 has been a success wherever it has played. The idea of 3 superannuated cleaners setting up a sex chat line in rebellion at being made redundant may not sound immediately funny but Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood have created 3 superb female characters and one nasty boss! The fun starts when it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Juliette Kaplan best known for her long running character Pearl in “Last of the Summer Wine” plays Girl Guide leader Olive the brains behind the enterprise and a lady with a few secrets of her own (you’ll have to see the play to find out just what). The ever popular Kim Hartman well remembered for her appearances in the highly successful ‘Allo ‘Allo is grandmother Elsie and she certainly isn’t going on the scrap heap when there’s her grandson Mark to sort out. The trio is completed by that pint sized and lovable Sue Hodge also from ‘Allo ‘Allo and here giving the role of Gladys 110% and bringing the house down with her chat line Madonna the pigeon fanciers widow. Incidentally, I knew that there would be a major joke in the play involving a vacuum cleaner when I saw Gladys struggling with her equipment during the opening minutes of the show! More than that I’m not saying. These 3 actresses bring their combined experience of comedy timing to this well written story and it works. Dean Gaffney, well known as Robbie Fowler in EastEnders is perfectly cast as the weasel like boss Dave who gets his comeuppance in more ways than one and when I tell you it involves a glove puppet you might have an idea of how he is caught out by the 3 cleaners. But you’ll have to see the show for the full low-down. His comedy timing was spot on. This fast moving and at times riotously funny show brought back memories of happy holidays on the south coast and holiday entertainment on the pier. The writers know just how far to go and most of the fun comes from double meanings and innuendo and isn’t that what British comedy is all about. The production is tight knit with one set, good lighting and excellent sound. A great night out. Continues at the Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 1 July. Running time 1 hour and 45 minutes including the interval. Clive Fuller