Free and Easy

~~FREE and Easy, a rarely performed, unusual comic drama (set in a northern English pub in the 1960s called ‘The Last Drop’) is a combination of monologues and scenes interspersed with songs. The cast broadly had really solid northern accents and there were good characterizations, particularly Lynda Parker (landlady Iris) who produced a marvelous rendition of “Will you still love me tomorrow” to her husband, Mike Clay who in turn sang the Cliff Richard number “Living Doll”. Anna Johnston as their daughter not only produced a superb solo rendition of “When I fall in love” but also joined barmaids Vanessa Spinks and Sharon Booth played by Lesley Wilson and Nicki Cresswell in “These boots were made for walking”. Other characterizations added to a superb evening well appreciated by a full audience. A particularly good performance was of a sleazy brewery consultant ‘Dodgy’ Ron Stone brilliantly played by Roger Minors. Musical numbers seemed somewhat awkwardly dropped into the show but this is an issue with the script itself rather than the company who performed them with good musicality and harmonies. The overall evening was thoroughly enjoyable with the audience often joining in to sing and clap along with the excellent trio of musicians (led by MD Peter Fellows).

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