Dick Barton – Special Agent
by Phil Wilmott

Reviewed by Peter Steptoe for The Croydon Advertiser

What I find great about the members of Theatre Workshop Coulsdon is their true humility regarding the acting profession, and the need to always give of their best.

Under Richard Lloyd’s sprightly direction, and his performance as arch villain Baron Scarheart, complete with accent, this pastiche, spoof, call it what you will, came alive.

The elderly among us probably did believe, when young, the propagandist British tradition of dauntless courage, always truthful and faithful unto death.

Coulsdon Workshop, by playing it straight, without a hint of irony, made it extremely funny. We warmed to saintly Dick Barton (Chris Blakeney) and his partial resistance to the feminine wiles of voluptuous Marta Heartburn (Tanya Allison), singer at the Viper’s Nest nightclub.

Luke Argles’ working-class Snowy was excellent as an inebriated substitute Barton, dialectically suelling with the Baron.

The running gag of whether you were putty or in Putney had the audience in hysterics.

The back room worked hard and the sound and lighting effects were on cue.

The revolving scenery ran smoothly making for a quick change of scene and venue.

Bruce Montgomery’s suave BBC announcer should ensure him a job with the Corporation any time.

Jock was played Scottishly by Neil Grew who could also sing with his accent intact.

I liked the ‘certainly not’ when he requested the hand of upmarket Daphne Fritters (Heidi Bush) by her father Sir Stanley (Mark Taylor), thus ensuring that class-ridden Britain was still there.

The ensemble acting was good and entrances and exits were at lightning speed. The children loved it, and so did the grown-ups.