The Good Life

Performing any well-known and loved television series is not easy, especially when the characters are so well defined, as is the case here with “The Good Life”. The audience expects the actors to represent their favourite characters in every way; namely, Tom and Barbara Good and Jerry and Margo Leadbetter, two couples who could not be more different from each other.

This production was in the good hands of experienced director, Neil Mather, who ensured that the actors emulated the characters from the TV series. The storyline moved from one house to the other, then sometimes to the office, all done with the assistance of great lighting changes.

The stage play is based on the first series of “The Good Life” (original authors: John Esmonde and Bob Larbey). Tom has had enough of working long hours as a draughtsman, designing plastic toys of the kind found in cereal boxes, and decides to leave the “rat-race”.

Tom and Barbara decide to become totally self-sufficient and grow their own food, invest in livestock, and what they don’t eat they can sell – all from their own garden. Unfortunately, this is not what the Leadbetters, especially Margo, want from their neighbours in upper-class Surbiton.

Jerry is Tom’s colleague at work and no matter how much Jerry and their boss, Sir Andrew, try to dissuade Tom, he and Barbara go ahead with their plans and proceed to organise their new lifestyle. Members of the public try to help, but they just seem to add a little bit more chaos. The goat, Geraldine (not a real goat), keeps making appearances causing yet more chaos.

Meanwhile, Jerry and Margo entertain with their never-ending dinner parties involving lots of food and drink, and during these parties we are introduced to the business-owner, “Sir”, and his wife, Felicity. With so much alcohol, these parties easily get out of hand, especially when Tom and Barbara join in.       

The stage is divided into two totally different home styles of the 1970’s, the very up-market home of Jerry and Margo and the more down-to-earth one of Tom and Barbara. The furniture and many other props brought the sets to life and the outfits for all the cast were spot-on to match their characters, particularly for Barbara and Margo.

A lot of hard work has gone into creating the perfect mannerisms and accents to match the well-known characters that we know from the TV series. The dialogue from all these four actors flowed with ease and each of them gave excellent performances - Tom (Jason Vardy), Barbara (Jessica Vardy), Jerry (Frank Bardsley) and Margo (Marie Simmonite).                                                                  

As always, Mark Stones gave a very good performance as Tom’s boss, “Sir”, likewise Clare Haynes’s performance as his wife, Felicity. The play would not be complete without the great support of the other actors in their cameo roles of: Margaret (Jill Connell), Harry the Pigman (Jon Wilson), Dr Joe (not a vet) (Greg Muscroft), The Milkwoman (Sandra Norburn), Mary (Kim Baker) and Policeman (Lucas Gunson).

Congratulations to everyone involved with this excellent production and a most enjoyable evening. Thank you for the invite and the warm hospitality.

 

Sue Cox   Drama Rep Region 14

NODA N.E. 

 

 

 

 

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