The Priest, The Nanny, The Chef and his Daughter
Small in numbers but big on talent, Cribhut hit the stage at the Keay for their annual performance – and what a performance it was! Set in the 1950’s this riveting tale of romance, intrigue and death had all the ingredients for a perfect night out.
Beautiful Juliet Capulet is fighting against the marriage her penniless father has selfishly arranged in order to realise his dream of running his own restaurant. Juliet’s Nanny Angelica has her own agenda, being in love with a Priest and desperately in need of a quiet corner of the city in which to hold their secret trysts. Nanny is torn between wanting the marriage which will seal the deal on the restaurant, but also holding a strong desire to see her young surrogate daughter happily married to the penniless busker that Juliet is so madly in love with.
A cunningly Baldrickesque plan is hatched to drug Juliet on her wedding night so it will appear she has suddenly and tragically died, Nanny and the Priest will then whisk her away to be with her Romeo, Juliet’s father will receive the cash injection for his restaurant giving Nanny Angelica and her Lawrence the secret meeting place they so desire. As is the way with cunning plans, it all goes horribly wrong when Juliet takes the poisonous draft at the wrong time and throws everything into a tailspin.
With mad Mafia connections, sharp instruments, fabulous music, some blood and a very funny script this year’s Cribhut play was a triumph. Chris Hamilton, Karen Burdon, Steve Dowrick and Wendy Taylor are bright, shiny stars amongst us and I for one am already looking forward to Cribhut 2012