Billy Liar

I cannot remember how long it is since I saw Billy Liar, but I know it was a long time ago which is a big shame as it is a very funny play and well worth producing by any drama group.

I remember the original film made in 1959 of this with Tom Courtney in the title role, for those of you of a certain age it also had Wilfred Pickles playing Billy’s father and Mona Washbourne as his mother.

The action of this piece takes place in the Fisher’s house and on the road outside their front door and I have to congratulate the set and wardrobe teams for their attention to detail.

As the title suggests, Billy Fisher is a compulsive liar, maybe that is a little strong but at best he is a romancer, always making stories up, usually to get himself out of trouble. Lee Sanderson was perfect in this part, trying to be a little more upper class than his family, much to the annoyance of his parents, especially his father but to the enjoyment of the audience.

Billy’s parents, who are a typical run of the mill working class family were played superbly by Sue Briggs and Neil Mather, both of them trying to keep tabs on their wayward son. It was very much like peeking in on their daily routines in the Fisher house with all the actors giving very convincing portrayals of this family.

The final member of the Fisher household is Florence Boothroyd, Billy’s Nan, who lives with the family, usually complaining about how things are done or not done in the house, enter Julie Webb who was nothing less than perfect, her comic timing is excellent and you could just imagine her being a part of a typical family such as this.

Billy has a mate who works with him at the Undertakers, or should I say works at the undertakers as from what is said Billy does very little work there. Lucas Gunson was great as Arthur Crabtree, his delivery was good and he looked the part too.

Billy, not being content with one girlfriend, has three, Barbara, Rita and Lis and most of the time he manages to keep each one away from the other two, most but not all of the time! Billy is “engaged” to both Barbara and Rita but only has one ring which is currently on Barbara’s finger but he has promised to get it back from the jewellers to give to Rita.

Of course, only time will tell and sure as night becomes day, Barbara and Rita meet at Billy’s house, a cat fight ensues because of the engagement ring and it is up to his parents to sort it out. This is a touching scene, as well as being a funny scene as Billy’s Nan has just passed away and still upstairs.

The three girlfriends are played by Beckie Ruddock, Jack Howie and Neath Champion-Shorr as Barbara, Rita and Lis respectively.

Congratulations to everyone involved especially Tracey Briggs as Director, Elliot Cable as Co-Director and all the production team.

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