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This style of comedy has broad humor reminiscent of the old English music hall comics, fast paced dialogue which requires the audience to pay close attention, and often situations of mistaken identity or confusion about who is paired with whom as the show quickly moves toward a resolution that leaves everyone onstage happy, and the audience wiping their eyes from laughing too hard.

The Smithfield Little Theatre brings us such a show with There Goes the Bride.  Written by Ray Cooney (Move Over Mrs. Markham, Run for Your Wife) and John Chapman (Move Over Mrs. Markham), and first presented in England 33 years ago, it takes the basic ingredients and gives them a little twist.  The resulting chaos that ensues brings a wealth of opportunity for the actors to "chew the scenery" and the audience to hold their sides as they roar with laughter at the antics.

The casting by director April Jones is generally good, though there are a couple of weak links in the company.  Not unexpected from a community theatre, and not so noticeable as to detract from the performance.  In the lead role is Tim Jones (Timothy Westerby) as the father of the bride.  He's an advertising executive who's wooing a big client with a new ad campaign for the all important product: ladies bras.  The "insanity" that happens as the show progresses is courtesy of him with the help of a couple of accidental bumps on the noggin'. 

The show is almost worth the price of admission just to watch Mr. Jones onstage.

Not to be outdone though is one of the supporting characters, Bill Shorter (Brian K. Teal).  In what could easily be a throw away type of role, Mr. Teal comes close to stealing the show.  Playing the business partner of Mr. Westerby, his first entrance gave the show the energy and drive that was lacking at the opening.  And the show really took off when Mr. Westerby made his entrance.

The beginning of the show was slow.  Part of this is the result of the dialogue, part the result of the actors.  The show opens with Mrs. Westerby (Mary Rose) and daughter Judy (Kristina Steiger) repairing the zipper on the wedding dress, and talking about the wedding and the fact that the daughter isn't a virgin going into marriage.  Risque stuff for 1974, not so much today.  The pacing was off, cues weren't picked up, and lines were stepped on.  Some of this could be the result of "second night letdown," that nasty habit that actors often have of not focusing as much as opening night.  Even the pros have this problem at times, and the director (I'm sure) picked up on it and will make sure that her actors are ready for the performance. The audience had trouble at the start as well, not sure when to laugh or if the show was actually a comedy.  As the show continues it's run this problem should fix itself.

Other performers of note are Carrie Baker (Polly Perkins) who will be off to school in my home state of Ohio come fall, Geoff Payne (Charles Babcock) a legit Englishman playing an Aussie,  Walter J. Grubbs (Dr. Gerald Drimmond), and life long Smithfield resident Jeanette Chapman (Daphne Drimmond).  Ms. Baker plays an interesting role as an illusionary character only visible to Mr. Westerby, with the obvious hilarious results.  The others fill in nicely for this classic sex farce, and the folks that come to see this show will leave with a smile on their face and joy in their heart.

What more can one ask for from a night of good community theatre?

 There Goes the Bride runs at Smithfield Little Theatre through March 10th. Call 757.357.7338 for reservations.