A beautiful display of the work these actors put in over the last few weeks and a victorious landing to end their rep season.
4.5/5
Rounding off an exceptional rep season on Tuesday, five actors began their final run of their fifth play in five weeks. Whew! Reminiscent of the dating pool in 2026, The Virtuous Burglar equally entertains and drives home the message to never judge a book by its cover.
The comedy follows Conor Dumbrell as a burglar who strolls in without a care, only to find himself in considerably more trouble than he bargained for when the man he has been watching for weeks comes home halfway through the theft. That is only the beginning of the fun, however, because the homeowner arrives with his mistress while his wife is away for the evening. Unfortunately for the burglar, who is now hiding for safety, his plan begins to unravel when his wife, played by Rachel-Leah Hosker, unintentionally blows his cover by calling the house!
Naturally, everyone eventually ends up in the same house and, as you can imagine, chaos ensues.
Dumbrell was exceptional as the burglar, particularly in the way he kept the audience in his pocket as he weaved his way in and out of getting caught. There was a wonderful sense that we were all in on the joke, watching him desperately navigate a situation that seemed to become more impossible by the minute.
Jaemon Anthony Crosby and Cash Holland, playing the adulterous couple, were among the funniest parts of the evening. They strutted in wearing their best neon ’80s outfits, matching the vibrancy and fun of the stage design.
Crosby gave a performance full of energy, charisma and comic precision. He reminded me of the perfect mix between Stefan from Family Matters, with his smooth-talking, animated, slightly over-the-top energy, and just a little bit of Urkel creeping in during his more scaredy-cat moments. Crosby knew how to hold the room without forcing the comedy, and every new layer of the situation gave him another opportunity to heighten the ridiculousness.
Cash Holland was a “scarlet” in the best possible way. Her character had a very clear philosophy: her way or the highway. Holland played that confidence beautifully, giving the mistress a sense of certainty that made the increasingly absurd circumstances even funnier. Her chemistry with Crosby made the two of them a joy to watch.
Jessica Temple then entered as Anna, the wife of the cheating husband. She appeared to be the only redeemable character, demonstrating serious comedic chops, only to reveal that she was part of the foolery too. Jack Duncan entered towards the end as her lover, proving to be the perfect support for this ensemble.
Cackles were heard throughout the theatre from audience members who simply could not contain themselves any longer. Coming in at just over an hour, an encore would easily have been accepted.
The Virtuous Burglar was a beautiful display of the work these actors have put in over the last few weeks and a victorious ending to their rep season. To think they only had one week of rehearsals—hats off to this team!
The Virtuous Burglar runs at Riverside Studios until tomorrow. Tickets here.