Wodehouse in Wonderland – York Theatre Royal

Writer: William Humble

Director: Robin Herford

When you stage a play about arguably the funniest writer of the 20th century, it should raise more than the odd snicker. The first half alternates P.G. (Plum) Wodehouse (Robert Daws) writing a letter to his beloved stepdaughter, Snorkles (really Leonora) with reminiscences of his marriage and his lifelong friendship with Guy Bolton, uncommunicative conversations with his would-be biographer, mixing the drinks, doing his morning exercises and the odd song.

The problem with the songs is that the Wodehouse song we all know is Bill – hardly suitable for a chap to sing – but the day is saved by including Wodehouse lyrics for the London run of a Cole Porter musical. Daws’ way with a song is engaging, not excessively melodic, but full of charm.

After the interval the show gains momentum. Wodehouse accedes to his biographer’s demands that he tell what happened in World War Two. Making no pretence of being other than foolish, Wodehouse re-creates the opening of his first broadcast – and, in any place other than war-torn Britain (Wodehouse had thought it would be broadcast only in then-neutral America), it would have passed as pure whimsy, no more offensive than the blue Alpine hat Bertie Wooster wore in defiance of Jeeves.

Then follows a brief passage in which the family tragedy of Wodehouse’s life is told sparingly and movingly by Daws with none of the expansive gestures that mark much of his performance. The message emerges that to be happy is a chosen course of action which sustained Plum through his 90-plus years. He misses England, but how nice it is to live on Long Island!

Perhaps William Humble goes for too much of a slow burn: by the time the meat surfaces, it’s almost too late. Lee Newby’s set is a delight: a large picture window gives us the lawns and woods down to Long Island Sound and the room is fitted with all the 1960s accoutrements, around which Robin Herford skilfully manoeuvres Robert Daws. As for Daws he sells us the character of P.G. Wodehouse with amiable charm, switching accents, launching into mild irascibility, convincing us that all a man needs is a wife, a friend like Guy Bolton – and a daughter like Snorkles.

Runs until 22nd April 2023, before continuing on tour.