The Real Inspector Hound

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Funny - Rated
Last year, I and my fellow pupils did this play. It was hilariously funny. I played Cynthia, the beautiful man-eater. I recommend this to everyone. It has a great atmosphere about it.

Absolute genius - Rated
Never has such a play captured my imagination. Last year I starred as the role of Birdboot in this extremely intelligent comedy in my school play. Upon reading the script for the first time I was confused beyond belief because of it's complicated structure. However once we ran through it for the first time it's blatent ingenuity of parody became apparent. It effectively it runs off a play within a play and the two critics who watch tbe play, the hopeless romantic Moon and the ever sleazy Birdboot. The play they are watching is a classic murder mystery which shows the ridiculous nature with which murder mysteries are created and provides countless laughs for the audience. The Real Inspector Hound also shows funny elements of everyday life such as:

Birdboot: Chocolate?
Moon:What kind?
Birdboot: Black Magic.
Monn: I'll have montelimar.
Birdboot: Ah sorry. (Poniting to mouth)
Moon:Turkish Delight? Cherry Liquor? pape Neuf de 55 Cracknell?
Birdboot: Afraid not. Caramel?

The Real Inspector Hound also has rather sinister undertones which become apparent as the critics become absorbed into the play they are watching, however I shan't reveal the entire plot as that would ruin the play. If you can appreciate good theatre then I would recommend reading this or seeing a production of it to absorb the true magic of Stoppard. This is also an extremely good play for school production as our's went down extremely well. A true masterpiece.

I was riveted - Rated
As a lover of Agatha Christie-style murders, this funny, satirical play kept me entertained the whole way through. True, I may be biased because I happen to be playing Lady Cynthia in my university production, but so much time spent with the script has made me appreciate Tom Stoppard's wit and humour. Every time I read this play I pick up those subtle little bits that Stoppard slipped in in his ingenious way.

For anyone who loves satires, British crime comedies, or just a fun read, The Real Inspector Hound is a play that you shouldn't miss.

Parody at its Peak - Rated
It is rare to find an HSC text which sends fifteen seventeen-year-olds into hysterics, whilst their teacher howls with laughter along with them. Stoppard is fantastic, and everyone can enjoy this play whether of literary persuasion or not. It is impossible to keep a straight face.

Oh how we laughed - Rated
For the past year me and my English A-Level class have been pulled lengthways through the gloomy region of Egdon Heath and various other bits of Wessex, dragged screaming in torment through Denmark and the nature of Kingship, battered through the 1920s and East and West Egg. And then we were given this. We laughed! Oh how we laughed! Farcical, satirical, blessed, blessed relief, it was. To say lines with genuine enthusiasm for the content is quite a new idea for us, but this play opened it all up. Cool.