Yvette Carte Blanche (played by Una Falconer); Mimi Labonq (played by Sophie Irvine); and Rene Artois (played by Billy Mulligan)
‘Allo Allo’ is this year’s annual production by Enniskillen Amateur Dramatic Society.
Following on from the success of their production of ‘Calendar Girls’ last year EADS are back with a very funny play following the exploits of French cafe owner Rene – a character made famous by the hugely popular BBC sitcom of the same name.
The play runs for three nights next week – Thursday, Friday and Saturday (February 13, 14 and 15) and Saturday night is already ‘sold out’.
Director of ‘Allo Allo’ is Ken Saunderson and he said rehearsals are now entering the final stages as the run of shows draws closer.
“The show features a cast of 12 led by Billy Mulligan who plays cafe owner Rene. Una Falconer and Sophie Irvine play cafe waitresses Yvette Carte Blanche and Mimi Labonq, both of whom Rene is carrying on with behind his wife’s back.
“We book the theatre for the whole week of the performances. On Monday the set goes up and we rehearse with final dress rehearsal on Wednesday before curtain up on Thursday night.
The television programme ‘Allo ‘Allo was a very popular BBC sitcom broadcast from 1982 to 1992 and still attracts a following on satellite TV re-runs.
Set in a café in war-torn occupied France, René Artois and wife, Edith, struggle to keep their café business intact while all around them the occupying German army, the Gestapo and the French Resistance fight each other.
René takes solace in the arms of his waitresses, Mimi and Yvette, a secret that he is hiding from his wife, Yvette and Mimi!.
He is also hiding a priceless portrait, stolen by the Nazis, in his cellar, in the hope that he can sell it after the war and live on the proceeds.
Also hidden in the café are two British airmen while the Resistance come up with ever more complicated plans to repatriate them.
Just when he and Edith think they have managed to navigate these stormy waters and assure their financial future, a new District commander arrives – a character that never appeared in the television series – to set a cat among the pigeons.
The situation deteriorates further with the news that the Fuhrer himself is to visit the town to collect the painting from the new commander.
This is a very funny play, written for the theatre, going somewhat beyond the limits that applied to public television broadcasts, that fans of the sitcom will appreciate and that will also appeal to those who have never seen the broadcasts.
‘Allo Allo’ runs from Thursday, 13 to Saturday 15 February at 8pm. Tickets £10 – concession £9.
