Ronin Theatre Productions are a local Oxford company, committed to performing plays written within the last 20-30 years, co-founded in 2018 by Ashley Hunt and Alistair Nunn who share a wealth of experience in community theatre. Nunn also co-directs Quiz, with Jessica Reilly taking the helm for this run of shows between 3rd and 7th March at the Old Fire Station.
As the audience filed into the auditorium tonight, we were greeted with the simple staging of two bar-stool-type chairs facing each other on a raised plinth with a spotlight shining down on each.This iconic Who Wants To Be A Millionaire set up remains static throughout the 2-hour plus performance, but that is literally the only part of the show that doesn’t change; it is utilised in every part of the performance, with the use of movement and lighting to cleverly transport the audience.
A warm welcome is extended by our host, Chris Tarrant (a fantastically nuanced Phil Cotterill) bounding onto the small stage between the two chairs, introducing us to the main players – Charles and Diana (no, not that Charles and Diana) Ingram and alleged co-conspirator Tecwen Whittock, played by Rob Cole, Nicola Jones and a very stony-faced, dry (and I’m not just talking about his cough) Ralph Watson, respectively. However, Tarrant’s gameshow-bright intros are punctuated with a fast-forward to the future with presiding Judge Rivlin (Rachel Smith) reading the charges to the trio, and their sombre ‘not guilty’ responses.
Instantly recognisable simply by the use of a pastel-shaded polo shirt, Rob Cole plays Charles Ingram, the British Army Major at the centre of tonight’s show with a charming, bumbling, nervous energy. Did he win Who Wants To Be a Millionaire just by using his clever brain (and ‘practising’), or was there strategic coughing involved? It’s up to the audience to decide.
James Graham’s play isn’t just a retelling of the coughing scandal of 2001 as it played out on TV and in the news media; it is shrewdly written to give both sides of the story, set simultaneously in the courtroom, the TV studios and with a glimpse into the imagined domestic and working life of Major Ingram and his wife.
The first act gives us the prosecution’s side of the story with the excellent Matt Blurton leading the way as Nicholas Hilliard QC. By the interval it’s time for the audience to give their view of events so far, with the defence QC, Sonia Woodley (an equally brilliant Clare Denton) exclaiming that “the defendants’ case must be heard” amongst a cacophony of coughing from the rest of the cast.
This production is fast-paced, clever and laugh-out-loud funny but with some heartfelt moments too. The story, as we all know, is absolutely bonkers, with a wealth of characters and ‘they did what?!’ moments to keep audiences fascinated across the last couple of decades since the events took place. I could wax lyrical about every single member of the cast for pages and pages, they all made for terrific viewing, but I must give a couple of special mentions.
Alison Cook’s portrayal of Major General Roberts (the classic caricature of a British Army general) together with her scenes as David Liddament (the profanity-loving Head of ITV) are brilliantly executed – throw into that her absolutely hysterical turns as Bullseye and The Price is Right audience members and we have a masterclass in the art of successfully switching between very different characters.
Another very special mention has to go to Ronin’s co-founder Ashley Hunt, who, due to illness had to fill in as two fairly important characters at the eleventh hour; Diana Ingram’s brother, Adrian Pollack, and ex-army TV Producer Mark Burnett. He threw himself into both roles, but his portrayal of Pollack was particularly energetic and impressive, especially considering the last minute circumstances.
Get yourselves down to the OFS to see this show this week – it is hilarious, gripping and certainly a lot more thought-provoking than one might imagine, examining memory and media and how both can create and change narratives. A really entertaining treat.