ONE FOR THE ROAD

On an extremely warm  Friday evening, in a the studio theatre that is attached to the main auditorium, a very well designed set on a flat floor was the backdrop for this witty, pithy, funny comedy that provided  an excellent portrayal of upwardly mobile misery and angst in the 70/80s.

The play is absorbing. It is written by Willy Russell, who is well known for 'Educating Rita', 'Blood Brothers' and 'Shirley Valentine’, his socially observant writing in a caustic North Western (Scouse) tone always assured to enthral an audience.

Shades of Abigails Party , intermingled with When the Boat Comes In”  with a hint of “The Likely Lads” were brilliantly brought together, as many of us recalled,  which middle class pretensions were  marked out by bold burgundies, chilled Beaujolais Nouveau, cottage pie (by some French name), Sainsbury’s, Joni Mitchell and John Denver.  Yes the play seems a little outdated now, but in a couple of centuries or so it will picture precisely its place in history.

This four hander featuring  very different characters, each with their own carefully honed northern accents ( Courtesy I am told of an avid Coronation Street following ) delivered their roles with passion and pace, linked to some perfect comic timing and appropriate use of some bad language

The play is nominally about Dennis approaching the magic 40, who together with his wife Pauline and close friends Roger and Jane; meet for a dinner party to celebrate his on rushing midlife crisis. Their conversations are relevant and highly comedic as through the dialogue they gradually strip bare the façade of fulfilment and satisfaction.  Major admissions are sought and exposed as a result of unflagging examination of the trials and tribulations of keeping up with the Jones’.

Dennis (Marcus Gilks) expresses his frustration and fantasy nature as a non-achiever superbly well. With all that’s wrong about his past hating the present and glimpsing an escape route to a bright future. Pauline (Amy Trotman ), his wife with suitable snobbery and pursavineness conveys perfectly believable self-satisfaction with that air of smugness.  Phase 2 of the housing estate where they live being like in Pete Segers “Little Boxes”. They are a couple trapped in a mundane world.

Unseen discussions about their son and phone conversations with Dennis’ parents are funny and well thought out. Telephone calls from the unseen parents featuring detailed instructions on a route to the party are well delivered though inevitably with no positive result. Their Guests for the evening, Jane (Victoria Stakelum) and Roger (Steve Roberts) are well portrayed.  With great style and individualism they contribute to the all-pervading image of four people trapped in a bubble of meaningless, fruitless nothingness.

During the course of the play, a search for something more meaningful ensues as the story meanders along unexpected routes with surprising revelations. It is all the funnier for that. Dennis is the victim of his own Tupperware nightmare therefore It is no surprise that when the play was first written, it was called the 'Tupperware Man

There were some enormously funny scenes, not least in a spook interview on a Wogan would be celebrity with many comic lines. This was the strength of a superb well directed wonderfully entertaining production, enhanced by authentic props and very realistic red wine poured in copious amounts and consumed by the players.

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