"Straight Up": Wellington Rep. till 24th March.

Reviewed by Peter White.

If you enjoy "The Archers" then "Straight Up" now playing at Wellington Repertory Theatre will appeal to you.

From the pen of Syd Cheattle comes a so-called spoof based on the trendy topics of sexual sadism and religious fervour. But in writing, Cheattle must have forgotten the mechanisms of the well-made play and thus much was alack in Bryan Aitkcn's production. The actors were especially guilty in not providing the link between the script and production. Some glimpses of hope were seen in the performances of Jim Grant who portrayed the sex-crazed civil servant, and Michael Hooper who performed the best drag I have seen for ages. But the production as a whole was in a quote from the play: "half-way to desparate".