Tom Foolery @ The Arts Centre Playhouse

I have to say that the opening of the MTC's new Tom Lehrer musical revue, Tom Foolery was notable not for "red hot" Rhonda Burchmore's performance, or that of Jerry Connelly, rather the most persistent memory from the evening is the moaning of the patrons about the appalling quality of the MTC's productions. To be fair, not everyone was complaining, everyone over 55 seemed delighted.

The show itself is a witty collection of Lehrer's oeuvre strung together with witticisms of Lehrer's utterings from his live performances. Perhaps because it was devised by theatrical behemoth Cameron Mackintosh, or perhaps because aforementioned MOR production values of the MTC but the whole affair seemed a little overblown.

Thank god for Tom's songs, the managed to shine through all the sequins, feathers and affectations. The sixties were a tumultuous time and Lehrer manages to satirise the morays of the era in a way that still edges towards the risqué today. The ditties still feel relevant despite the fact that we were hearing them in a theatre full of conservatively dressed middle-aged men and women but by the end of it all I could think is that everyone seemed to be missing the point. I am sure Lehrer is turning in his, um, armchair.

This production, give it a miss. The show, try to catch it with just four players and a piano in some community hall.

Tags: theatre, review, MTC