Pictured above: Larry Gutman, Michael Hardart* and Leonardo Altafini, photo by Bella Muccari. Set in a London hospital, It Runs in the Family by Ray Cooney has esteemed Dr. Mortimore on the brink of delivering the Ponsonby Lecture to an international conference of neurologists; but first, he must fend off a paternity suit, an ex wife, a punkish son and various other lunatics so that he may, at last, deliver the Ponsonby Lecture in an international conference.
The cheap laughs at the expense of a-man-in-a-wig are offset by over-the-top hysterical performances and nuanced writing that kept me smiling for the entire show. In the spirit of Faulty Towers, Coronation Street and Are You Being Served?, It Runs In The Family serves up a super smart, extremely funny and brilliantly acted cast.
Joseph Casese takes the role Dr. David Mortimore and literally owes the stage while Dr. Mike Connolly, played by Adrian Rifat, is thoroughly entertaining and with nothing more then a facial gesture had the audience eating under his spell. Other noteworthy performances come from Noelle McGrath who plays an uptight Matron and Dominic Cuskern (Sir Willoughby Drake) was genius and was nothing short of outstanding.
I went into this show an non-lover of farcities and slap-stick comedy but this show has turned me into a convert. This show is proof that you can be silly, entertaining and intelligent at the same time. It Runs In The Family is an absolute a must-see and and there really is plenty in this show for everyone.
The Cast
Dr. David Mortimore……….. Joseph Cassese
Dr. Mike Connolly…………… Adrian Rifat
Rosemary Mortimore….…… Amy Scanlon
Dr. Hubert Bonney……….…Michael Hardart
Matron………………….……Noelle McGrath
Sir Willoughby Drake……….Dominic Cuskern
Jane Tate………………..…. Monica Ammerman
Sister……………………….. Elyssa Nicole Ackerman
Leslie…………………………Ben van Berkum
Sergeant……………………. Leonardo Altafini
Bill………………………..…. Larry Gutman
Mother……………………… Pauline Walsh