Farce, Slapstick, Corny Jokes, Imposters and Dead People
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
If you want to laugh, or at least giggle at the silliness, take in Tons of Money at the Royal George Theatre at the Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake.
First presented in 1922, this farce includes secrets and lies, imposters, and reversals of what is expected. As the ridiculous plot unfolds, the audience is forced to suspend belief and go with the flow. The pratfalls and slapstick distract you so that you can’t be worried about fact-checking for verisimilitude.
Aubrey and his wife, Louise, are wanna-be aristocrats, but deeply in debt. Whey they learn that Aubrey’s cousin George is presumed dead, the couple is in line to inherit his fortune. But they soon realize that all the inheritance will go towards Aubrey’s debt.
Julie and Aubrey hatch a scheme to say that he (Aubrey) is dead. With Aubrey dead, he can pretend to be his cousin George, who has just been located, and claim George’s fortune. You can see how this plan is fraught with problems. Without offering any spoilers, the rest of the show is turned topsy-turvy by other imposters and a total lack of decorum. The household’s gardener, maid and butler add to the farce, as does a lawyer, a hard-of-hearing relative, and the real wife of the missing George.
Mike Nadajewski is hilarious as Aubrey Henry Maitland Allington. He brings out all the character’s quirkiness, leaping on and off furniture. He is especially funny when he is disguised as a clergyman. Julia Course is the perfect foil as his wife, Louise Allington. While Aubrey is leaping (literally) ahead with plans, Louise is rather ditzy, coming up with ideas which don’t make sense, but somehow come to fruition.
André Morin is brilliantly funny as Henery, one of the imposters. He knows how to lift an eyebrow or twitch his mustache at just the right moment to get a laugh. In fact, the entire cast is gifted with the comedy gene.
At one moment, two actors start to crack up, laughing at each other. They quickly regained their composure and got back into character. Was it planned, or just a spontaneous funny moment that caught them up? In any case, the audience loved it, roaring with laughter along with them.
Tons of Money goes to the top, without going over the top – ok, well almost going over the top – yeah no, it does go over the top. Yet it remains good for a laugh, and a means of looking at humour in the 1920s. Like Anything Goes, also at the Shaw Festival this year, the comedy in Tons of Money seems to have withstood the test of time: 100 years later, we are still laughing.
Tons of Money continues in repertory at Royal George Theatre, The Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake until October 5. For tickets, visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW(7429).
Photo: Julia Course as Louise Allington and Mike Nadajewski as Aubrey Henry Maitland Allington in Tons of Money. Photo by David Cooper.
Tons of Money
By Will Evans and Valentine
Directed by Eda Homes
Performed by Julia Course, Nehassaiu deGannes, Ron Kennell, Qasim Khan, Marla McLean, André Morin, Mike Nadajewski, Sepehr Raybod, Graeme Somerville, Lindsay Wu.
Royal George Theatre
Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
April 11 to October 5, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson