Jeeves Takes Charge
Charing Cross Theatre
Being a ‘millennial’ prior to this show, my primary awareness of ‘Jeeves’ was the now retired ‘Ask Jeeves’ search engine, in which a friendly well-suited gentleman assisted you through the word wide web. Last night’s fantastic tour de force starring the tremendous (Sam Harrison). Was an action packed, 2-hour, one-man show, that gave me a true introduction to the wonderful originally created by P.G. Wodehouse over a century ago.
The show starts with Bertie Wooster in dire need of a new butler having recently dismissed his prior employee. The audience is quickly introduced to Jeeves who immediately renders himself indispensable to Bertie by serving him with a fast-acting hangover cure. Throughout the course of the show, we are introduced to a variety of comedic characters which distinctive voices, mannerisms and supported by an impressive amount of physical comedy. From garish Aunts to imposing fiancées and an Uncle with a torrid past. In his performance Sam was able to devote full commitment and believability to each and every character he inhabited.
The scenes throughout the story are video projected onto a background, with a ‘title’ for each location they are taking place in. Which as this show is set at such a fast paced, I found helpful in keeping track, as other elements of the set remained the same throughout the show. There were so many laugh out loud moments during this performance that it is a challenge to list them all. I particularly found myself chortling during the moments in which Sam portrayed the 12-year-old schoolgirl Peggy Mainwaring, I for one have never seen a hopscotch carried out at such speed and the flexibility when examining the nail in her shoe was truly impressive.
One of the elements of the production which felt slightly misplaced given the promotion as a one-man show was the introduction of 2 other performers (who are not listed in the cast). They raise the bunting at the village fete and then join Sam in a tap dance towards the end of the show. Given that the cast majority of the show had been faithful to the one man format this scene did feel slightly out of place in comparison to the rest of the show.
Despite the title of the play, it is notably Bertie who is the main character portrayed throughout the show, with Jeeves subtly ‘taking charge’ often in the background to help his employer avert disaster in his somewhat chaotic life. It was truly an enjoyable evening, and the funniest performance I’ve seen for some time. If like me prior to this performance, you are only familiar with Jeeves the Butler in passing. I would really recommend getting to know him alongside the other fantastical characters created by P.G. Wodehouse more through this wonderful production.
Jeeves Takes Charge is playing at the Charring Cross Theatre until September 6, 2026.
Reviewer: Lisa Dawn
Photo: Craig Fuller