By Philip King
Pools Paradise is a 1961 British farce in three acts. All three acts take place in the Hall at the Vicarage, Merton-cum-Middlewick. It is the same setting and characters as the play “See How They Run”, but it is not a sequel.
The plot centers around The Reverend Lionel Toop, who preaches against the sins and evils of gambling. Meanwhile certain members of his parish - his wife, his maid, the maid’s boyfriend, and the substitute pastor – regularly purchase tickets on the national football (soccer) pool. The problem arises when there may be a winning ticket in the house.
The cast of seven (7) is small – four (4) men and three (3) women - but the comedy is large. All seven roles are extremely interesting characters.
Mrs. Penelope Toop
The Reverend Lionel Toop
Ida
Miss Skillon
Willie Briggs
The Reverend Arthur Humphrey
The Bishop of Lax
Good clean fun with a “G” to “PG” rating.
