Raiders Of The Lost Shark
About the Production
An unashamed tribute / spoof / homage of the Indiana Jones’ movies that made the 1980s such fun, Richard Lloyd’s comedy adventure draws most heavily on the second of the series, ‘Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom’ (1984). (the first chronologically, being a prequel, set a year before ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’). Although the inevitable Nazi villains are still in the mix (they are so irredeemably bad and easy to dislike), the far Eastern settings, ranging from India to the South China Sea, plus the inclusion of a young Chinese sidekick and a plucky cabaret singer, have clear parallels with the follow-up film.
But if Harrison Ford was only the second choice to play our favourite adventuring archaeologist, behind Tom Selleck, there was only one choice for us. Neil Grew, who had at that time cornered the market (at TWC) in somewhat knowing heroic leading-man characters (He played Robin Hood in 1993, and would go on to play James Bond in 2004). His donning of the trademark (Lucasfilm, that is) battered fedora, leather jacket and bullwhip was pretty obvious casting.
So, beware of the deadly traps, look out for the evil villains and the deliciously duplicitous femme fatales, jump in the seaplane and head due east for excitement and laughter, as Alabama, Frenchy and Hoi-Sin go in search for the fabled Jewel of Munkipore!
The Cast
Behind the Scenes
Image Gallery
The Reviews
Ingenuity by the boat load – and a flying boat at that – was supplied by the members of the Theatre Workshop Coulsdon. In a production set almost entirely against black drapes, their props and small sets were quite superb. The tale is pretty ingenious too, packed full of adventure and innuendo, as well as the odd pantomime reference.
Neil Grew as Dr Alabama Jones took a leaf out of Roger Moore’s Bond movies by acting like mad with just his eyebrows and a sardonic smile, while Claire Andreadis as Frenchy O’Rourke kept up both her excellent transatlantic accent, her belief that being an American citizen would one day be useful (and she was right) and her devotion to Dr Jones, through many a nightmare journey. The piece is peopled with nasties, three of whom are Nazis, another is from Munkipore, and yet another the cannibal king of Krakabotl. All five are determined to make life difficult for Dr Jones and Frenchy as they search for the diamond of Munkipore.
Lisa Lloyd’s swashbuckling Sumatran Sal was something of a turncoat, enticing then denouncing Alabama, and Princess Shag Aloo (Tatiana Allison) turned too, from baddy to goody, having fallen for Alabama’s charms. Squarely on the good side is Hoi-Sin, Alabama’s cook, who knows just one recipe. Daniel Ireson made an excellent Chinaman and gave rise to excruciating “look, a light, I see a chink ahead” type jokes. These puns flowed throughout a show wonderfully costumed by a team of five wardrobe ladies who particularly excelled on the hats.
The show owes much of its cohesion and air of adventure to sound man Pete Gregory and musical director Mark Taylor, and to the stage crew who manipulated those super props – the huge boulder after the explosion, the lifelike ship’s wheel and, deserving of very high praise, the seaplane, particularly its descent to the sea.
Written and directed by Richard Lloyd, who received unjust thanks as Gotah Singh, bodyguard to the Maharajah, this really is good stuff.
Some unusual audience participation ideas, a surprise ending, loads of comedy and a talented cast gave real Boy’s Own entertainment, except that…Well, just book your ticket and you’ll see what I mean.
Reviewed by Theo Spring for The Croydon Advertiser, Friday 19 December 1997
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