Perfect Nonsense: By Jingo Jeeves!

By jingo Jeeves, Bertie’s in a jam!

JEEVES and Wooster have got themselves into a bit of a pickle in the pre-West End run of their play. At the last minute, the technical chaps at Richmond Theatre, Surrey, had to raise the level of the stage to stop the scenery falling over.

It means audience members who booked seats in the first few rows of the stalls can barely see the top half of acting duo Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan as they gamely bring P.G. Wodehouse’s most famous creations to life.

‘Some even resorted to leaping to their feet when they fear they are missing something, which is dashed disconcerting for all concerned,’ says a theatregoer. During one performance, a mortified Mangan, who plays bumbling Bertie Wooster to Macfadyen’s fastidious valet Jeeves, departed from the script and inquired of a lady in the front row: ‘Can you see ANYTHING? You are sitting in front of a wall.’

But he is keen to make amends. Those affected find a gold envelope on their seats with a personal note from Bertie informing them: ‘If you telephone the nice people at the box office they will be happy to arrange complimentary tickets for my play when it moves to The Duke Of York’s Theatre, where you will be able to see me properly.’

17 Oct 2013 Daily Mail (thanks to Lorna)