While the Sun Shines at Pentameters Theatre

It's been a while since I've been to Pentameters to see a play and it's something I've missed doing. Grabbing a pint from the Horseshoe below and settling down on the cushioned chairs, it's all very homely.

    December sees one of Terance Rattigan's more light-hearted affairs take up residence. Unlike last year, Pentameters aren't putting on a Christmas show, but Rattigan's While the Sun Shines is a fitting comedy at a time when we're inundated with festive events!

    The story of While the Sun Shines is simple enough, Elizabeth (perfect casting in the form of young actress Naomi Day) is engaged to Robert (Matthew Jordan). All is well, until she realises that there might actually be other men out there worthy of her love, and all kinds of hilarity ensue.

    It's not the most original story, but Pentameters production is constantly entertaining thanks to a group of obviously competent actors who have been excellently cast (certain roles, I'm told, were swapped during rehearsal, and rightly so!) Day and Jordan are excellent leading roles, and both demonstrate brilliant comedy timing (mostly planned, but some first night hiccups were smoothly and amusingly dealt with!)

    The rest of the cast are no less worthy of mention. Nick Simons plays a wonderfully dry butler, whilst Simeon Oakes' US Officer charms the pants off of the audience and has you behind him every step of the way. Gabriella Gadsby's Mabel Crum has some of the best lines, excellently delivered, despite spending what appears to be the majority of the play in the kitchen…

    Top marks though go to Michael Loughman and Guy Callan. Loughman plays Elizabeth's extraordinarily loud father, who's every line is delivered as if it's his last. Callan on the other hand plays the surreal Colonel Colbert, whose French accent must be heard, and makes his delivery brilliant, if not a little surreal… 

    While the Sun Shines, whilst chaotic, is one of the best shows I've seen at Pentameters mostly thanks to its brilliant cast and light-hearted nature (the last thing we want at this time of year is people yelling at each other in a confined space.) Well worth a watch.

While the Sun Shines runs until the 18th December, Tuesday – Saturday 8PM, Sundays 5PM. Call 020 7435 3648 for tickets.