FOLLOWING the success of staging a classic BBC comedy last year, once again CLOS wowed audiences at The Guildhall last week with a fantastic production of ’Allo! ’Allo! by Jeremy Lloyd and David Perry.

Based on the popular BBC television series, this uproarious comedy relates the adventures of a hapless cafe owner in occupied France.

He and his wife have stashed a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis in a sausage in their cellar, where two British airmen are also hiding until the Resistance can repatriate them.

Communications with London using the wireless that is disguised as a cockatoo add to the many embarrassments this intrepid proprietor endures in the company of his patrons.

News that the Fuhrer is scheduled to visit the town inspires tricksters disguised as Hitler to frequent the cafe. Meanwhile, Rene summons all the wit he can muster to save his cafe and his life.

Director Philip Wells cast the show perfectly and a talented company certainly brought the characters to life.

Rene (Neil Wells) had a nice rapport with the audience and Teresa Ravenscroft, as his long suffering wife Edith, was highly entertaining and suitably annoying both vocally and in character.

Helen Rose had to work a little harder for her laughs with her strait-laced character.

And Rosie Colthorpe and Katie Glenn were the waitresses who wanted to get their hands on Rene.

Lots of comedy here and Rosie, in particular, smouldered away.

Stephen Egan delighted in the role of Herr Flick – a gift of a part but played with great skill. Silvey Webber, as Helga, also revelled in her saucy role.

There were outstanding cameo roles among the array of foreign officers.

Adam Chudley was incredibly convincing as Lieutenant Gruber – the most camp German: Adam had the German accent and glint in his eye down to a tee.

Some over-the-top characterisations came from John Attree as the mispronouncing French police officer Crabtree, Ian Craig as Colonel von Strohm, David Penticost as the absurd Captain Bertorelli, Tim Glenn as General von Schmelling and Andy Treble as M. Leclerc.

As is usual with CLOS productions, this was a highly professional performance which provided a thoroughly entertaining evening.