Review: Onesuffolk

The Brontes of Dunwich Heath ...and Cliff written by Ivan Cutting and Eileen Ryan. Eastern Angles at Sir John Mills

Following on from their previous foray into the literary worlds of Jane Austin and Charles Dickens this latest Eastern Angles romp takes as its inspiration the Bronte sisters and especially their novels Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. We are in Dunwich at the home of two Bronte cousins Plain Jane and Mad Cathy. Jane aspires to by a writer like her Yorkshire relations - Mad Cathy aspires to be like her deceased mother Catherine who was in love with Heathcliff who went off to seek his fortune and never returned . Their father is a down at heel Reverend who is worried about money. Jane goes to work for the local MP Mr Rochester who is a coconut magnet and has an eccentric Barbadian wife in the attic. She in turn is keen to start her own beauty business with the oils and produce of her country -  You get the picture.

This was very much the usual Eastern Angles Christmas fare - but none the worse for that. Regular attendees will recognise the territory - the set is minimalist but cleverly used, the music is folksy and singable, there are plenty of local references and tongue in cheek jokes - this year coconuts got top billing in the double entendra department, the characters are larger than life and the cast work their socks off playing a number of different parts.  Cameron Johnson - 6ft 7ins and black - was a striking addition looking quite amazing dressed as Mrs Rochester, Laura Corbett held it all together well as Jane, Harry Waller played the Rev and most of the music, Sophie Reid was suitably weird as Cathy and Clare Hawes was versatile in her many minor roles and a suitably over the top Catherine/Kate Bush. And there was an appearance by Cliff Richard thrown in for good measure - what more could a punter want!!!

This is a rollicking, entertaining evening where the jokes come thick and fast, the pace is rocket propelled and there are no embarrassing audience participation episodes to worry anybody. It is suitable for all ages so if you are not a panto fan but would like a good Christmas romp of a show this is defiantly one to sign up for.

Suzanne Hawkes