SADOS delivers the laughs....Never have the phrases "doubled over with laughter" and "rolling in the aisles" seemed more apt than during the latest offering from Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (SADOS) at the South Holland Centre last night. 

Cash on Delivery always had the potential for being a great comedy, written as it was by Michael Cooney, son of Ray, a veteran scriptwriter of West End farces such as Run for your Wife. In SADOS' hands the script exploded onto the stage: within two minutes of curtain up Eric Swan (Paul Coleman) had secreted his phone down his boxer shorts to avoid being caught on the phone by his long-suffering wife Linda, (an assured performance by Sheila Millington); the audience lapped up this classic visual gag and from then on the laughter was unstoppable.

Eric has been defrauding the DSS for years, creating a household of fictitious characters each bringing in much-needed money since he lost his job at the Electricity Board.  Now suddenly feeling guilty as the deception has snow-balled, he tries to disentangle himself by killing off his creations, one of them his lodger Norman Bassett, who is very much alive. When the DSS inspector, Mr Jenkins (Keith Hodges), calls to check up on a few details, Eric admits to his hapless lodger Norman (Mark Yates) that he is now officially dead and persuades him to help him out of the predicament he has created.

Mark Yates was exceptional as Norman, deciding to play the character as a Brummie and possessing such great comic timing together with a superb range of facial expressions that my laughter turned to rather embarrassing snorts on several occasions.  He was the perfect foil for Paul Coleman, who kept up the pace of the play admirably and made Eric a character the audience warmed to.

Eric's partner-in-crime, his Uncle George (Ben White), was a likeable cheeky chappy, reminding me of Bobby Ball. Having been knocked out cold by a series of opening doors, he allowed himself to be bundled into a window seat and tipped upside down into a bin bag like a floppy rag-doll.

Keith Hodges' be-suited and fastidious Mr Jenkins was a joy to watch as he became more inebriated with the sherry foisted upon him. His fearsome boss, Ms Cowper, arrived late in the proceedings but with a formidable chest and a withering gaze that really showed off the talents of Beverley Moore.

Newcomer Jo Carling played the bereavement counsellor Sally Chessington with a tantalising smidgin of sex appeal which enabled her to add sparkle to the innuendos that were sloshing about all over the stage. Add to that a wonderfully obsequious psychiatrist (Rosemary Mason), the dead-pan humour of the undertaker (Ros Blowers) and the despair and disbelief on the face of Norman's poor fiancee Brenda (Toni Martell/Hannah Gray) and all the elements of a fabulous night of entertainment were in place.

The set was bright, simple and well-constructed; John Wright and Mick Gray ensuring doors could be frenetically opened and closed without any walls wobbling. The props were just right, even down to the frustrated clicking of the child-proof cap on Norman's tub of aspirin.

Much praise should go to the director, Brett Moore, for bringing out such comic talent from his cast.  Brett will be directing SADOS' next musical, Calamity Jane, so it's good to know it is in safe hands. The producers, Elaine Deathridge and her son Andrew, should be justly proud of the whole performance: I have never seen so many people laugh so loudly and for so long in one evening.  My 11 year old son thought it was the funniest thing he had ever seen and I think I might have to agree.

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