Anthony Kimmins’ comedy, The Amorous Prawn, chalked up well over 1,000 performances on the stage, Now, directed by the author, it shapes up as non-demanding light entertainment, cheerfully put over by a reliable cast of popular British thesps.
General Fitzadam (Cecil Parker) is on the eve of retirement but is a bit short of cash. His wife hits on the idea of converting his military headquarters in Scotland into a guest house. The general’s army staff is brought into the scheme.
Two major complications develop. One is the sudden, unexpected return of the general which, at first, calls for a considerable amount of repetitious camouflage by the conspirators. The second is when an unexpected guest turns up who is revealed as the Minister of State for War.
Parker produces one of his typical, bumbly performances, but Joan Greenwood, as his wife, is not so peppily in character as she normally is in this sort of drawing room farce. Ian Carmichael does a shrewd job as the wily corporal who becomes maitre d hotel in the scheme while Liz Fraser and Bridget Armstrong provide some pulchritude.
