But at The Players Theatre, where ‘Allo ‘Allo is currently playing, it’s all part of the fun. Gunter Bieniasch, is cafe owner Rene Artois, who struggles with his clientele, his saucy staff, and his wife. 

Wife Edith (Lyn Turner) sings, very badly, at the cafe and is pursued Italian Captain Bertorelli (Tony Leddiman). Meanwhile, head waitress Yvette (Natillie Robertson) and co-worker Mimi (Barbara Sherrin), who is a member of the Resistance, are both infatuated with Rene. As, it seems, is German officer Lieutenant Gruber (Daniel Parlevliet).

Herr Flick (Matthew Symonds) plays on his Gestapo rank, and fancies Helga (Amie Ward), secretary to corrupt Colonel von Strohm’s (Bruce Dawson) – making another mismatched couple in this humorous conclave of intrigue.

Meanwhile British airmen (Peter Langdon and Chris Phillips), hidden in the cafe’s cellar, await a plan from Resistance member Michelle Dubois (Alison Evendon) for their escape.

Monsieur Le Clerc (Dallas Laundry), Resistance’s art forger and a master of disguise (not really), paints a number of forgeries of the Fallen Madonna, being kept by Rene at the behest of von Strohm. When General Schmelling (Peter Valentine) wishes to present the portrait to Hitler, the many threads of intrigue begin to unravel.

Fans of the madcap television series will know the phrases that have become part of the vernacular: Officer Crabtree’s (Chris Francis) bad French accent: “Good moaning”; Michelle’s call to arms: "Listen very carefully, I shall say zis only once”.

Director Cameron Marshall, says the opening performances last weekend were very well received. “It’s going really well, we had a full house on Sunday.”

He praised the set construction crew led by Tim Ronan and thanked the “band of volunteers” for the many hours put into “decorating, painting, fixing and rejigging”. “I had a few anxious moments, but when it all fitted together, it all flows reasonably smoothly and the audience are enjoying the visual,” Marshall says. 

There are 16 scene changes to replicate the television series as close as possible. Marshall hired props from Tamworth Music Society, which produced the play last year. He also had some of the costumes made to order in China and others fashioned by the Players’ costume department.

The ensemble cast of 17, is a mixture of seasoned players and newcomers who have tackled the French accents “surprisingly” well, says Marshall. “I am fortunate to have such good people to work with. The audience have a good time and can relate to the characters from the familiar show.”