Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut ****

The year is 1941. France is occupied by the Nazis, who wield significant influence in North African Casablanca. A stream of desperate refugees clamour to leave for America, but only the rich or powerful can hope to make it. European flotsam and jetsam gravitate to Morocco – but once there, they wait. And while they wait, everybody comes to Rick’s…

There is an art deco-style set at the lovely Ghillie Dhu venue that evokes memories for anyone who has seen the film – and it’s utterly charming.

A chanteuse takes to the stage and performs three songs from the era, including the iconic As Time Goes By.

But then the action really begins. What follows is, in essence, a series of key moments from the film: the hustler Ugarte has letters of transit for sale, which more or less guarantee safe passage to America. These are subsequently acquired by club owner Rick Blaine. Freedom fighter Victor Laszlo and his partner, Ilsa Lund, seek to buy them – however, Blaine and Lund have a romantic history, and it’s far from certain he will play ball. All this plays out against the backdrop of the Nazis’ attempts to prevent Laszlo’s departure.

The film's central themes of love, sacrifice and moral dilemma are timeless, and it remains a much-loved classic. Yet do not expect a faithful reproduction of the film here. Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut is a distillation of the action, paying homage to the original, and is interspersed with little-known snippets about the film’s creation. The cast multitask, switching characters and settings in a heartbeat. It is a fusion of drama, comedy, slapstick, song and music – and it works quite beautifully.

There is a joy to hearing some of the classic quotes: “The Germans wore grey, you wore blue,” and “Here’s looking at you, kid.” There is also a storming and uplifting rendition of La Marseillaise, complete with audience participation.

The pace of the show is relentless, and the quality of performances very strong. Catch it if you can…