Entertainment
4 March, 2025
Classic farce draws crowds
IN classic Rondo fashion, the theatre’s latest play ‘Charley’s Aunt’ brings the perfect combination of chaos, cleverness and just a hint of cross-dressing to create a hysterical rollercoaster of mistaken identities, forbidden love and epic banter.
The Rondo Theatre is back with Charley’s Aunt, the Victorian farce by Brandon Thomas and directed by Kevin Shorey. It brings an experienced and youthful cast to deliver perfect comedic timing as we see young and wealthy Oxford University students Jack Chesney and Charley Wykeham in the pursuit of love with disastrous results.
The production treats the audience to a beautiful stage and a charming cast that meets the goal of delivering great comedic timing, twists and turns and all the madness that continuously builds up as each scene goes on.
We’re initially introduced to the two friends Jack Chesney, played by Johnathon Tydings, and Charly Wykeham, played by Aaron Singh who discovered they’re profoundly in love with Kitty Verdun (Alice Bosanquet) and Amy Spettigue (Amelia Roy) who are about to be sent away to Scotland by their uncle and guardian Stephen Spettigue (Dean Franklin).
Both young men decide to propose before the two ladies head off to Scotland so they decide to organise a lunch to declare their love. However, they know they wouldn’t be allowed to attend without a chaperone. When Charley finds out his widowed aunt from Brazil Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez is coming to visit, they know it’s the perfect chance, but they also need someone to romance her so they can get time alone with the ladies.
They attempt to recruit their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley (Matthew Raleigh), better known as Babbs, who’s not willing to help.
When they find out Donna Lucia won’t be arriving, Babs, who’s an amateur actor unwillingly ends up having to impersonate the mysterious Donna Lucia in a costume for his amateur play. What ensues is utter chaos, clever jokes and a lot of cheekiness with a perfect pace as the lies continue to pile on, the charade seems to fall apart, and more quirky characters continue to add into the madness.
Although the whole cast masterfully keeps the audience laughing, it’s Matthew Raleigh’s performance as Babbs that steals the show. His wittiness and sass as Donna Lucia and all the crazy situations he finds himself give him the opportunity to shine, thanks to his ability to play with both masculine and feminine elements.
His increased sassiness as he relishes the role of Donna Lucia is hilarious and probably the most iconic role of the play, however, it’s other supporting characters like Dean Franklin, as Stephen Spettigue, and Wayne Rees, as the disengaged butler Brassett, who continue to add even more comical nuances to the whole performance.
Charley’s Aunt is a classic farce that you wouldn’t have wanted to miss.
Tickets are sold out for the remaining shows of Charley’s Aunt.
