Funny Money

Remember the good old fashioned farce?

Popularised back in the fifties and sixties by the likes of Brian Rix, farces were fast-moving sit-coms based upon ludicrous misunderstandings, improbable co-incidences, slapstick and innuendo, with the actors running in and out of slammed doors, often with their trousers around their ankles.

At their best they were very funny …and very silly.

In more recent years, the farce waned in popularity, giving way to more sophisticated comedy. Well now it’s back. With a door-slamming, trouser-dropping, innuendo-ridden vengeance.

Ray Cooney’s 1994 play Funny Money has been suitably scoused-up by director Leslie Lawton for a month-long run at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.

It is very funny …and very silly.

This fast-moving play revolves around Danny (played by Neil Caple) and his “suddenly alcoholic” wife (Eithne Brown) and the way they react to Danny having found a briefcase containing two million pounds.

The ensuing chaos is magnificently orchestrated, with the entire cast bouncing off each other, both metaphorically and physically, with precision timing. Neil’s long time Brookside buddy Mark Moraghan and Royal Court regular Alan Stocks delivered some particularly side-splitting cameos.

Funny Money runs at the Royal Court until 27 February and with tickets costing from as little as £10 you won’t need a briefcase full of money to enjoy it. This is unmissable!

Read my review on the Liverpool Echo website