It’s New Year’s Eve 1949, Rio de Janeiro and Henry Holland (Miles Jupp) and friends are gathered at The Union Club to celebrate. As their evening progresses, Holland insists that his friends help him tell his remarkable story for their mystery guest Farrow (Guy Burgess).

The set design by Francis O’Connor is busy, but functional and cleverly used to tell the story. From hostess trolleys as bullion vans to champagne buckets as smelting pots, it helps to paint the picture whilst also raising a few smiles from the audience.

It’s very much an ensemble piece as most of the cast convincingly take on various roles and accents for the storytelling. Holland, an unassuming bank clerk who has dreams of stealing the gold bullion van he escorts across London each day and having just learned that his new lodger Pendlebury (Justin Edwards) makes Eiffel Tower paperweights out of lead, hatches a plan to pull off the crime of the century.

Adapted for the stage by Phil Porter, from the original screenplay by TEB Clarke, Jeremy Sams’ direction is superb, with lots going on at once but the action and storytelling remaining focused. There are plenty of laughs as the perfect crime goes wrong continuously!

Jupp and Edwards have a good rapport and capture the comedic style of the chosen era well without playing for laughs.

It’s a rediscovery of a classic Ealing comedy that will have you entranced by its hilarity!

Traditional, witty and highly entertaining!

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

The Lavender Hill Mob plays at Malvern Theatre until 12 November and tours the UK until February 2023. Tickets for select touring venues are on sale here.