In this hit West End comedy, Straight and Narrow by Jimmie Chinn, the cosy domesticity of lovers Bob and Jeff is threatened by a crisis. Jeff is considering leaving Bob. Bob, meanwhile, has to contend with meddling family members who are ignorant of his living situation.
Bob’s mother, a domineering comic creation, complicates matters by pressing him to get married. She refuses to recognise that there is anything about her son which might upset her conventional sensibilities.
Can Bob’s family – matriarch mother Vera, Lois and Bill, Nona and Arthur – help to rescue the situation? And will Bob be able to tell the seemingly ignorant Vera that the ‘straight and narrow’ is not the life for her favourite little boy…?
‘Straight and Narrow’, Jimmie Chinn‘s most successful play, had a long West End run at the Wyndham’s theatre in 1992 and 1993.
Lewis Allcock (Bob) appeared at Above The Stag in Glenn Chandler’s ‘The Good Scout’ and ‘Lord Dismiss Us’. Recently he played Will’m Shaxper in ‘Marlowe’s Fate’ at the White Bear.
Todd Von Joel (Jeff, Bob’s kitchen-fitting business partner and secret lover) has recently been in ‘EastEnders’ ‘Holby City’ and ‘Shakespeare & Hathaway’.
Carol Royle (Vera, Bob’s drama queen of a mother) recent TV is the series ‘Endeavour’ and theatre is Vee Talbot in ‘Orpheus Descending’ at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Genie Klein in the National tour of ‘Beautiful the Carole King musical’.
Kerry Enright (Lois, Bob’s sister) has appeared in several major musicals including ‘Wicked’ (she understudied Madame Morrible) and ‘Sister Act’.
Harriett Hare (Nona, Bob’s sister) was Mollie Ralston in ‘The Mousetrap’.
Damon Jeffery (Bill, Lois’s husband) was in ‘An Enemy Of The People’ at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Gavin Duff (Arthur, Nona’s husband) was Skipper in ‘The Warmhouse’.
Writer Jimmie Chinn
Director Mark Curry
Set and Costume Design David Shields
Producers Andy Hill, Benoit Paturel & John Owen
James Chinn – playwright
James ‘Jimmie’ Chinn (1940 – 2011) was born in Middleton, Lancashire – the only son of his beloved mother, Edie. His early years, although not always easy, were to shape his writing in the future, and this often difficult time compounded his determination to achieve greater things. He was drawn to the theatre at an early age and acted with several amateur theatre groups in Lancashire – this period cementing his life-long connection to the Coliseum in Oldham. He eventually decided to become professional and he moved to London in 1959 where he trained as an actor at RADA, working in many aspects of the theatre. His short and very undistinguished career as an actor in the 1960s led to Jimmie working for Leader’s, a reputable box office and ticket agency in the Royal Arcade, serving London’s theatres. He contributed as a writer to ‘Emmerdale’ for several years as well as ‘Coronation Street’, while continuing to write for the stage and his beloved radio.
Mark Curry – director
Mark Curry presented many TV shows over the years including ‘Blue Peter’ from 1986-1990. As an actor, his West End theatre credits include The Wizard in ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Woman in Black’, and the centenary national tour of ‘Charley’s Aunt’.
Above the Stag, 72 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP from 3 – 28 August. Times: Wednesday – Saturday at 7.30pm; Saturday matinee at 3pm; Sunday at 6pm. Tickets: £12 – £15
Box Office: https://abovethestag.org.uk
