Montague's Millions by Luke Adamson. The Brockley Jack Studio theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London until 04 January 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Davor @ the Ocular Creative.

Montague's Millions by Luke Adamson. The Brockley Jack Studio theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London until 04 January 2025,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“A Christmas treat.”

And now for something completely different – the Jack Studio Christmas show. Set during a December night probably the day before yesterday rather than this year given the train they take three Londoner's receive a visit from a tall dark stranger bearing a letter inviting them to travel from Padddington to Penzance to attend the reading of a will in a country house at 8am the following day. They all need money badly so off they go. Directed by Kate Bannister with just the touch the text demands this year's offering is not only funny but keeps you guessing as things go very wrong for the travellers who eventually meet up on the train and do not trust one another. James, played by Tice Oldfield, is a slightly bolshie docker with a sick daughter desperately in need of cash, James is a slightly aloof doctor whose practice is broke and is also in need of money and Penelope is a titled lady travelling rather below her status whose husband has spent all their money. She too needs cash but being a lady takes enough luggage to last a week which, in the event, proves to have been wise. You can do things with a cabin trunk you cannot do with a holdall or an overnight bag. No spoilers, but enjoy Karl Swinyard's set which manages - with some interesting bits and pieces among which the library steps are particularly handsome - to conjure up the train, a door way or two, at least one window, a motor car that crashes and a truck full of sheep as well as a rowing boat for two which three people use to cross a lake. As for the cast, they play multiple characters as well as the named ones because they do meet people along the way with splendid versatility and there are lots of walking off through one door and coming back by another entrance as someone else to enjoy. Will they make it in time? Can they remember who they are? The Jack Christmas shows are always different and this one has been written by the artistic director of the Bridge House Theatre in Penge nearby with which the Jack has links. It runs for 90 minutes with no interval and as a Christmas outing is a good a treat as you could get and you get value for your money which, these days, is always worth knowing.

Cast

Adam Elliot -Dr Gordon Henderson

Tice Oldfield -Mr James McDonald

Julia Pagett – Lady Penelope Cunningham

Creatives

Director – Kat Bannister

Set Designer – Karl Swinyard

Lighting Designer – Laurel Marks

Sound Designer – Matt Karmios & El Theoderou

Costume Designer – Martin J Robinson