The Kneebone Cadillac at the Theatre Royal Plymouth Review

Reviewed by Linda Pickford

The Theatre Royal in Plymouth is well known for its new and innovative plays and last night’s production of The Kneebone Cadillac was a delight from start to its final story twist. The mix of youthful actors combined with the experience of Glyn Pritchard (Jed Kneebone/Hooper Munroe/Duke Longhorn) and Emily Raymond (Phylis Vanloo/Loretta Kneebone) worked extremely well. Expect an evening of laughter and surprises.

The story is that of the death of an old scrap yard owner in deepest poverty-stricken Cornwall. Jed Kneebone dies and leaves his children nothing but a debt-ridden business and an old 1956 Cadillac Eldorado. The bailiffs are already at the door and they have nothing in the pot to satisfy the £89,000 bill. The older brother Slick Kneebone (Callum McIntyre) decides to settle their demands with the use of his daddy’s old Winchester.

Meanwhile his younger brother Dwight (Joe Wiltshire Smith) thinks that becoming a drug dealer with his friend Ennis Munroe (Shaun Jenkinson) will earn them some much needed cash. Unfortunately, they are both hopeless at it and cannot find any takers. They also hid the drugs and cannot remember where they are. Cue the Manchester Drug Barons, dressed appropriately in dark coats and shades, who arrive for their £11,000.

Their debts are rising but Slick is insistent that all their troubles will be over if they move to Arizona to find the goldmine mentioned in the stories told to them all by their dad. They just need to locate the old diary with the treasure map. Life gets too much for him and he runs off with literally all guns blaring. This naturally gets him committed to the local asylum.

The only Kneebone family member with any common sense is the youngest, Maddy played by Hannah Traylen. She decides to use the car, left to her on his deathbed, in the local Boneshaker car race and thereby win a cash prize.

The author of this brilliant play is Carl Grose. He grew up in Cornwall and knows the area, United Downs, well. The enjoyment of the evening was further enhanced by a brilliant set design. A true scrap yard.

All in all, an outstanding piece of theatre, do try to see it before it finishes its run on Saturday.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £11 to £15 (booking fees may apply).

The Kneebone Cadillac is at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth from 15 November to 1 December 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.theatreroyal.com or call the box office on 01752 267222.

Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR | 01752 267222