THE DRESSER Matthew Kelly (Sir) & Natali Servat (Irene) Photo© Alastair Muir

The irony wasn’t lost on us, a masked audience watching a play about bombs raining down on a theatre during the Blitz in 1942… the show must go on as they say.

And it was wonderful to see the older Playhouse regulars returning in their droves on Monday night to see Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser starring Matthew Kelly and Julian Clary, Kelly’s swollen and belligerent narcissist providing the perfect foil for Clary’s silky smooth introvert.

Harman was a dresser himself back in the day to Shakespearian actor Sir Donald Wolfit – which inspired him to write the play in 1980.

“THE DRESSER IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN A BLOATED OLD LUVVIE FACING HIS FINAL CURTAIN CALL”

THE DRESSER Julian Clary (Norman) Photo© Alastair Muir

Matthew Kelly plays Sir, an ageing thespian struggling to maintain his physical and mental demeanour, alongside Clary, his waspish, bitchy and hugely protective dresser Norman, determined that the show must go on.

The pair are on fine form as Norman battles to keep Sir on the straight and narrow by slavishly adhering to a timeless domestic dressing room routine while batting off groupies, Sir’s fondness for the casting couch, threats of his memoirs and Her Ladyship played by (Emma Amos).

THE DRESSER Julian Clary (Norman) & Matthew Kelly (Sir) & Emma Amos (Her Ladyship) Photo© Alastair Muir

Throw in a stellar cast which includes stage manager Madge (Rebecca Charles), Irene the wanna-be (Natali Servat), the bitter Mr Oxenby (Samuel Holmes) and simpering Geoffrey Thornton (Pip Donaghy), and explore their collective cruelty, bigotism, loneliness, unrequited love, mental health and friendship.

It soon becomes apparent that even Norman and his dulcet tones can’t manage Sir’s rapid deterioration, played so fearlessly by Kelly, and the ensuing ramblings, hallucinations, foreboding and reminiscing that follow are certainly revelatory.

THE DRESSER Matthew Kelly (Sir) & Julian Clary (Norman) Photo© Alastair Muir

I did have to google Colwyn Bay as I left (it’s in North Wales by the way), just asking for a friend, but ultimately The Dresser is about far more than a bloated old luvvie facing his final curtain call, albeit in a rather lengthy format.

The Dresser is at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-dresser