Billy Liar

A friendly welcome awaited us and following a brief conversation with Paul Johnson we were shown to our seats by a member of the Front of House team. The theatre was filling up nicely with not an empty seat to be seen by curtain up

The play is set in the North of England.  It’s 1960 and the set had been very well designed and constructed to represent a modest but well furnished house of the period.  A ‘brick’ arch and white picket gate stage left led to the front door complete with authentic door furniture and a newspaper sticking out of the letterbox. It also allowed us a glimpse of a back yard with a bench and garden paraphernalia. On entering the house the entrance hall was complete with coats hanging on hooks, a phone and stairs leading to a half landing. From the hall we enter the living room where the action takes place. This was well dressed with a sofa (or settee as we would have called it in those days) an armchair, table and chairs, a sideboard plus other bits and pieces so typical of the time. I loved all the attention to detail such as a ceiling light in the living room and a light switch inside the door, back stage right, allowing us to catch a glimpse of the kitchen beyond.  It is these finer points which really lift a stage set out of the everyday.

All the characters had been well cast. An excellent performance by Sarah Wiggins as Billy’s grandma Florence Boothroyd, who opened the proceedings and continued expressing opinions throughout until her demise.  Good performances also from Vanessa Wood and Steve Hannam as Billy’s parents Alice and Geoffrey. These were two very different characters.  One a caring mother and homemaker, the other heavily committed to making his business work and with little or no idea how to handle his wayward son, whose behaviour is off the scale. They are at their wit’s end trying to deal with Billy whom they consider to be a good for nothing.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Jake Hannam in the title role. Billy Fisher works as an undertaker’s clerk, a job which along with most things in life he is unable to take seriously. A compulsive liar and daydreamer, the character is struggling to deal with the frustrations of youth and the expectations of family. His life is further complicated by the fact that he is engaged to two girls. When an ex girlfriend turns up and tries to persuade him to go to London with her, he thinks he has found a way to solve all his problems. Jake’s performance was so convincing you couldn’t help but warm to the character as he struggled to separate truth from fiction. This was an excellent performance.

Emily Power either loves oranges or is willing to suffer for her art. Either way, as Billy’s fiancée Barbara she contentedly peeled and ate her way through quite a few while discussing her and Billy’s wedding plans and their future together, neither of which was about to happen. A very good portrayal of this well mannered girl next door character.  In complete contrast was fiery Rita demanding to know the whereabouts of her engagement ring which had come to rest on Barbara’s finger.  Well played by Katie Fisher.

There were other good performances from William Tennison as Billy’s good friend and work mate Arthur who is beginning to despair of him and Rebecca Lawson-Turner as Billy’s ex Liz and possibly his one true love.

This was a very enjoyable and well directed production with good technical support and with the cast keeping up their North Country accents throughout.

Congratulations to all involved and thank you for inviting me.

 

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