Gay's the Word, Jermyn St Theatre, review Salvation appears in the form of her ingénue colleague, Linda (Helena Blackman), who has inherited £2,000, and proposes that Gay use the money to establish a school of drama in her house, which is handily situated on the Kent coast. Handily, that is, for a couple of smugglers, who want to use her cellars to store their loot. Scenery is non-existent, lighting negligible, costumes and make-up show distinct signs of every expense having been spared (Gay's the Word, being a musical comedy about putting on an amateur musical comedy, is an ideal production for a small company). The success of the show depends entirely on its cast, some of whom are excellent. Sophie-Louise Dann, an old-fashioned pocket soubrette - all bust, bottom and saucy oeillades - holds the whole thing together magnificently. She is ably supported by Gaye Brown, Elizabeth Seal, Myra Sands and Eileen Page as a quartet of elderly teachers, and the male chorus, of whom Novello would surely have approved. Some of the other performers have possibly embraced the notion of amateurism a little too keenly - indeed, the entire production has a highly engaging flavour of something that Linda Snell might put on in Ambridge village hall - an impression enhanced by the plea in the programme to matinee patrons "not to rattle their tea trays." Until March 2.