Tons Of Fun Civic Theatre’s ‘Tons Of Money’ Promises Farcial Romp Of British Comedy

In one sense, “Tons of Money” will be an excursion into British theater comedy history.

The original comedy was written in 1914 and was first produced in 1922. It was written by Will Evans, a famous English stage comedian, singer and actor, along with writer and lyricist Archibald Thomas Pechey, who went by the pseudonym of Valentine.

It was a prime example of British farce, involving a lot of mistaken identities and music-hall gags.

In another sense, though, “Tons of Money” will be right up to date. This version has been revised and reworked by the master of modern British comedy, Alan Ayckbourn.

If it works out the way it is supposed to, it will combine the best of both worlds: The carefree style of the old days along with the bite of the new.

Director Margot Ogden calls it “a situation comedy with farcical overtones.”

It’s about Aubrey Henry Maitland Allington, a monocled upper class twit of the P.G. Wodehouse variety. He decides that he can avoid paying his debts by pretending to be dead and resurfacing as his cousin George.

The scheme doesn’t work out as planned. Humorous complications ensue.

It was first devised as a comic vehicle for Evans, who long reigned as one of the leading clowns of British theater. He wrote and performed numerous comic sketches and songs, with titles such as “The Railway Station Sandwich,” “The Barmaid’s Lament” and “The Breach of Promise Case.” Evans was especially noted for his slapstick “scenes of domestic chaos,” including “Building a Chicken House,” “Whitewashing the Ceiling” and “Papering a House.”

In the Civic production, which opens Friday, the lead role of Aubrey is played by the gifted local comic actor Scott Dunckley, who knocked ‘em dead last year in “The Foreigner.”

The female lead is played by Susie Wasson-Picard. The rest of the cast includes Pat Johnston, Laurie Ann Fondiler, Jone Campbell Bryan, Sam Oretta, Robert E. Farley, Lei Broadstone, Pat Owens and Lyle Freeman.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THEATER “Tons of Money” opens Friday and continues through April 27 at the Spokane Civic Theatre. Sunday matinees on April 14 and 21. Call 325-2507.