The Girl Next Door

The Girl Next Door is the 85th. play by Alan Ayckbourn. It is set in two very different time zones one being the summer of 2000 during Covid-19 and the other in the summer of 1942 and, there is an ongoing war. The story takes place in two next door houses and one wonders how can this be depicted on the small stage at Hasland Playhouse. Well, I’m always in awe of the splendid sets that the Company always achieve and this was no exception, designed by Andy Aldred, in fact it was absolutely incredible. The stage was divided into two rooms with a modern kitchen on one side and a 1940’s kitchen on the other. They were both so well equipped with appropriate and extremely wonderful props. The 2000 kitchen consisted of lovely high level cupboards and base units housing an inbuilt dishwasher, fridge, freezer, microwave, cooker etc. and every conceivable appliance was on display, there was also a breakfast bar and stools. The 1940’s kitchen was the very opposite with an old fashioned cooker, very dilapidated cupboards and shelves, a Belfast sink with a tap over it that actually worked! A table, complete with table cloth, chairs and again, excellent props of the era, completed the image. A half built wall structure represented the exterior of the houses which, and by way of a ‘door’, led into the gardens. The modern one had just a ‘lawn’ but the 1940’s one also had a ‘lawn’ with two ‘raised beds’ growing cabbages and cauliflowers to denote a vegetable garden. 

We first see Rob Hathaway sitting at the breakfast bar drinking and musing. He is a 60 something actor who has fallen on hard times and is very bitter at losing his starring role in NFS, a serial drama about a firefighting team in war-time Britain. He has had difficulty finding new roles and being in lockdown hasn’t helped his demeanour although he does have the company of his sister Alex. Steve Cowley was outstanding as Rob. It is a huge role and he so brilliantly portrayed the many differing characteristics of the role to perfection. He is slowly going mad, with week after week of not going out in lockdown, when he sees Lily in the garden next door. His disbelief in coming in to contact with Lily, and the fact of the time difference found him blundering his way through the bizarre situation by a superb interpretation of the very witty and comedic elements of the script. There became a lovely relationship between himself and Lily and the scene when he and Lily were slowly downing a decanter of Brandy was just so moving and endearing. He talked about the failure of his two marriages, admitting that it was partly down to him, but his caring and thoughtfulness towards Lily, especially after finding out via the Internet that her husband had been killed at El Alameine and then blurting this out to Lily, was so emotionally charged as he comforted her, but they were so unexpectedly and so dramatically interrupted by the arrival of Lily’s husband Alf who has returned on 48hour leave who on seeing the scenario in front of him, quite forcibly punches Rob, knocking him to the floor. A very powerful end to Act 1. Rob discovers from his sister’s intervention that there had been two battles at El Alamaine and Alf was killed in the second one, that’s why he was still alive. The dilemma now facing Rob was whether or not he should go and tell Lily for them to decide their reaction to this. He goes over, it is dark, he sits to wait and we hear sirens, blasts and shouts followed by almost hysteria from Rob as he shouts out The Lord’s Prayer. He puts on his torch and we hear him shout No! No! What follows is complete Blackout and when the lights come back on the 1942 kitchen has been replaced by flats showing a beautifully painted French door. Rob and his sister are now trying to understand and explain what might have happened next door when a letter has been delivered. At first Rob wants nothing to do with it, thinking it is from one of his adoring fans, but Alex insists and he discovers that the dresser who blew the whistle on him when he lost his role in NFS, was actually Lily. Rob just smiles, cries and says, thank you as we hear playing, “We’ll Meet Again”. It was indeed, a truly remarkable and first-rate performance by Steve. Another fine portrayal came from Annie Philips as Lily Tindle. She wonderfully captured the stalwart and down-to-earth nature of Lily who was trying to hold everything together whilst her husband is away fighting in the war. She so naturally, understatedly and innocently believed the story of Rob being a ‘fireman’ as they talked at cross purposes and became really heartbreakingly sad as she spoke about her children being evacuated away from London. She makes him a cup of tea (loved the whistling Kettle) and when the sirens go off and we hear bomb blasts she takes him to the Anderson shelter. When Rob persuades her to come over the hedge her reactions to the modern kitchen were exquisite as Rob explained what everything is and does. He persuaded her to go back to her house to have a drink of Brandy and she immediately pointed out that she had a whistle to attract the attention of the warden if necessary and on leaving through the ‘door’ Rob’s security lights went on and she falls to the floor thinking they are searchlights. They have a cosy chat and Lily at first takes a tentative drink of the brandy but it is not long before she is partaking of rather more than just one drink. There was a lovely growing chemistry and understanding between the two of them, albeit they had such differing backgrounds, which was so delightfully achieved. Nicky Beards was perfect as Alex Hathaway, Rob’s sister. She typified the strong professional woman admirably in such a matter-of-fact manner and her attempts at trying to bolster-up her brother out of his lethargy and depression were so well achieved. There was a most engaging and bonding scene when they were washing up in Lily’s kitchen with Lily rinsing plates under a running tap whilst Alex dried them. She did become quite supportive of him by herself delving into the lives of Lily and Alf, particularly as she found out about the second battle and her no nonsense approach towards her brother on receiving the letter, was super. Shortly after the appearance of Alf, Rob and his sister were holding a barbecue and we had fold-up chairs etc. on the ‘lawn’ with beer bottles on a small table. Alf was boisterously enjoying beating Rob (now with a beautiful black eye) at playing football. James Bryan was excellent in this small but vital role. Alf never went into the house and so the explanation regarding the Beck’s beer coming from Bexhill-on-Sea was just hilarious. The chat between Rob and Alf found Rob explaining why he was hugging Lily and Alf thanked him profusely, exacting a promise from Rob that he would look out for Lily. They talked of the war and when Alf said that they were ‘fighting for a better world’ he totally broke down, it was just so moving.

I have already alluded to the magnificent set, constructed in-house, which was further enhanced by excellent lighting and sound effects - Peter Davies and Tom Bannister. Costumes were appropriate for each era - Olivia Brooks and praise must go to Louise Sutton and Louise Ward for the fantastic Props. Many congratulations to Directors Carol Cooper and David Brooks, to Stage Manager Heather Davies, to all of the backstage Crew and especially to the extremely talented cast for this extremely impressive production. The performances were dedicated to the memory of their dear friend, longstanding member and Co-Director, Carol Cooper, who sadly died a few weeks ago. The cast and crew were devastated by her loss, as you can imagine, but they knew she would want the show to go on and you all have certainly done her proud by this superb production.

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