The Unfriend

Donald Trump is everywhere! The play takes place after DT lost the 2020 US election and before his re-election last year. The scene is set on board a cruise ship during the summer and later at the suburban London home of Peter, Debbie and their two hormonal teenage children Alex and Rosie. The stage extension was preset as the ship’s sun deck with rail with life belt attached, two plush sun beds where somewhat eccentric Elsa Jean Krakowski arrives and settles to sun herself and is joined by Peter and Debbie. Elsa is a pushy, talkative woman from Denver and gives the impression she has known this couple for some while. The voyage is coming to and end, they are starting to pack, and Elsa Jean insists they must stay connected and will meet again! And they do, sooner than expected. The couple wish to ‘unfriend’ this woman but are really too polite to do so. Peter is a ‘busy man’ – angry character, Debbie is over-polite to frustration, and protective towards her family. Debbie Googles Elsa when she discovers some chilling information. How can they put her off staying but too late Elsa arrives on the doorstep laden with luggage having changed her plans without prior warning, and what has happened to Barnaby, the widower she also met on board ship? She announces he’s dead. What to do?

Peter Huxley together with Stuart Swift designed and built the super single set. The suburban house interior – front door leading into living room, frequently used staircase, downstairs toilet  for a manic lavatorial interaction when PC Junkin suffers with a dodgy stomach and Peter is wielding an unpleasant toilet brush. The kitchen area was fully equipped with a working fridge, cupboards, sink unit with running water, fully stocked shelving with table and chairs set in front. A central colourful sofa, drinks table, telephone – first class attention to detail. Good wall decoration with pictures and a central working TV screen which cleverly projected a very worrying news item! John Sewell was the lighting designer with Forest McCarthy in charge of sound sequences and incidental music, all beautifully timed to keep the rollercoaster funny action on the move.

Good casting and interpretation of the characters. Michael Fitzgerald became the ‘busy man’ managing Peter’s anger so well, pairing with  Karen Wright as wife Debbie who coped with immense frustration and protectiveness of her family. The hormonal teenagers that changed their attitudes to the surprise of their parents were perfectly cast with Cameron Redshaw as sloppy video game addict, farting Alex who Elsa coaxed out of his room to take the air and exercise, and Zara Louise Redshaw taking on Rosie who sulked and changed to being loving and helpful.  Unwoke Elsa, the unwanted guest, was brilliantly performed by Kay Fitzgerald with her wonderful flexible body gestures, facial expressions and wonderful lines, she was so plausible to others – a serial killer - really? Further comedy was added by the constant interruption of deadpan faced, the unnamed neighbour played Peter Huxley never letting the garden wall situation go and died so very peacefully at the kitchen table. Charles Barnett was the hapless PC Junkin and added to the comedy action. I wonder if he met any Elsa’s whilst performing on board the cruise ship he’s just returned from?

Costuming was modern and fitting to each character. I particularly liked Elsa’s floaty appearance and her hair tied with a scarf, and what about the black ‘juicy’ track suit. Alex’s Lycra exposure too was fun.

Rose Clarke has once again produced a particularly good programme – I particularly liked the background of the British and USA flags, the comprehensive information and what an innovative idea to include a strip of raffle tickets in the price. Under Patrick’s direction the whole cast brought pace and life to this very funny comedy  and it was a treat to have a couple of hours away from reality of the world outside. Thank you all for a fine afternoon’s entertainment and your kind hospitality.

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