REVIEW - Weston Mercury, Somerset & Avon Herald Friday December 10th 1982

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Pardon Me, Prime Minister, being staged at the Playhouse by Weston Dramatic Society, has all the ingredients for a successful modern farce. Amusing, contrasting characters. Scantily-clad young ladies. "Mislaid" clothing. Embarrassing misunderstandings. Problems that threaten potential scandal unless averted by subtle footwork. Non-stop action. Plenty of funny throw-away lines.

On the opening night, though, the recipe did not work properly and the "cake" emerged from the oven as rather bland fare. Even the best of throw-away lines are useless if delivered so flatly that those on the receiving end don't "catch" them.

Things got off to a slow start and, while the pace did pick up, the production was not the rip-roaring comic success it could and should have been.

Yet the first night was not without humour - and the potential for a big success was definitely there if some aspects, such as timing, delivery and movement, could be tightened up.

Gerald White was flawless as the Prime Minister fighting an initially losing battle to control both his less than snow white past and his rampant Chancellor. He held the farce together with his assured acting and sense of the comic occasion.

Michael Bilson - the PM's loyal parliamentary private secretary - made more of an impact as each minute of the farce passed. His use of facial expressions was most effective and he brought a touch of subtle, cleverly understated humour to the show.

Trevor Anguish, as the puritanical Chancellor, seemed too tentative at times but did develop his Cromwellian role as the evening continued and he warmed to the part.

Fiona Smith (reporter Jane Rotherbrook) and Jill Dando (Shirley Springer, dancer in search of long-lost Daddy) were creditably unselfconscious about the undress demands of their roles. Jill, in particular, made a strong, clear contribution to the production.

Sarah Baber, as Miss Frobisher, coped well with her transition from stern statistician to passionate, if short-sighted PPS devotee - shedding spetacles and suit in the process!

Margaret Horler as Dora - attractive Nemesis from the past - and Lesley Blackwell, as the PM's charmingly "ordinary" wife, were confident and competent in their roles.

The farce - written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, directed by Mary Hughes - was on the whole well staged. No farce can succeed, though, if it cannot feed off an audience's laughter and create an atmosphere from their enjoyment. The first-night audience was too small to allow this to happen and, as a result, the farce failed to fizz.

With a bigger audience, and with opening nerves banished, Pardon Me, Prime Minister could certainly be a very funny, entertaining production. The show continues tonight and tomorrow.                                                                                 J.R.W.