THE pressure was on to emulate the success of last year’s Calendar Girls production.

But members of Enniskillen Amateur Dramatic Society (EADS) need not have worried.

Their stage performance of Allo Allo produced plenty of laughs as cast members old and new brought to life the unforgettable characters of the TV cult comedy series.

Staged over three nights last week the production told the story of hapless cafe owner Rene Artois who, like the TV series, is struggling to keep his head above water -- ducking and diving, not only from the Germans, but his wife too.

Played by Enniskillen Light Operatic stalwart, Billy Mulligan, Rene and Edith (Claire Holmes) are struggling to keep a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis concealed in a sausage in their cellar. And besides juggling relationships with his wife and two beautiful waitresses, Rene is hiding two British airmen, with the help of the Resistance, to repatriate them.

But with news that the Fuhrer is to visit town, Cafe Artois becomes filled with tricksters intending to impersonate Hitler before the event.

Among EADS’ familiar faces was Ciara Hambly who played Michelle, delivering those infamous lines “Lissen carefully, I will say zis only once...” perfectly.

Claire Holmes’ singing solo as off-key Edith was so terrible it was comedy genius.

And Christine Irvine bravely took on the role as Helga, having to perform a mini-striptease to reveal black lingerie complete with swastika logos.

New-comer Jonathan Moorhead as Herr Otto Flick had the audience in stitches, dressed as a female selling popcorn in a scene at the cinema.

But the star of the show was Ruairi Lenaghan who played Italian lethario Captain Bertorelli.

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