You're Only Young Twice, by Ron Aldridge

This jolly comedy was premiered in 2001, and certainly appeals to those of a certain age, (and is maybe a warning to their children!), as it is a tale of delight in life, and all its opportunities, regardless of the passing of the years.

A couple await late at night the arrival home of the third member of the household. The usual complaints from HIM about lack of consideration, noisy music, failure to take a share in household chores, or to keep a tidy room.  SHE makes excuses, jolts at every noise, peers anxiously out of the window. The sound of a motorbike charging down the road – he’s back! He turns out to be the wife’s elderly Dad, aka Brooksie, who has rediscovered the joys of youth.

The set was excellent, a real living room, complete with sofa, armchair, dining table, and attractive paintings on the walls. Stairs up to that evidently terribly untidy Dad’s bedroom. Props included a much abused loaf of bread, and wine glasses were much in evidence!

Regarding costumes, the leather biker gear for Dad’s first appearance, followed by cosy cardigans later, was amusing. His widow, Grace, who ‘graced’ the stage frequently as our ghost, was clad in a beautiful, long, shimmery outfit, which had maybe been the way Brooksie liked to remember her, in her best outfit on a shared fine occasion. This was very effective, quite touching indeed, for although this was a hilarious comedy, it also dealt sensitively with the human condition – love, loss, renewal, delight in life and all it offers. The cast were well able to bring this across, and of course this greatly enhanced our appreciation of this well-chosen piece.

Comedy, of course, is all about timing, and the cast managed this very well. Brooksie’s appearance in his motorbike gear, Tom’s reappearance down those stairs, and much else, were carried off very well. The bunch of pals from the Over 60s club, enjoying their jolly outings, games evenings, rediscovering romance, and yearning for new adventures, the chaps reverting to childhood almost, the ladies staying somewhat more grounded, all this stuck a chord perhaps with many an audience member, and the cast portrayed these characters very amusingly. The contrast between them and the very middle-aged daughter and son-in-law too, with all their responsibilities (mortgage payments, bills, what will the neighbours think), was very funny.  As my companion said: ‘This is the play we should all bring our adult children to see!’

One highlight was the Toast, where the gang had obviously developed a little tradition of its own, (showing that they were not just a newly formed bunch), with a ritual ‘dance/rhyme’ toast for special occasions. Very comical, especially with Rose (Trisha Haley) being so reluctant to join in, as she felt it too silly. The relationship indeed between the enthusiastic Brooksie (Jos Johnston), and the guarded, sceptical and very serious Rose, was both funny and touching at the same time, and both actors conveyed the development of this very well.

Grace was indeed a very graceful ghost, making frequent appearances as Brooksie trod his wary path of grieving, through renewal, to moving on to a new relationship with Rose. Kayte Burns played the wise, consoling and encouraging wife, moving Brooksie on along life’s path, with calm skill.

There was lots of humour surrounding the on-off-on wedding of Tom (Terry Gardiner) and Julia (Barbara Jarvis) too. The morning-after-the-fateful-Stag-Night scenes were hilarious, as the hungover Brooksie slowly came to realise that this super-jolly, much relieved, no-longer bridegroom-to-be Tom, full of the joys of spring with ideas of hang-gliding, bunjee-jumping and flat sharing, was all HIS doing.

So this was a great evening with much laughter – chuckles, chortles and roars of it – and also many tender and thoughtful moments. Jos Johnston excelled as Brooksie, who of course has to carry the play, and he was ably assisted by the rest of the cast, with great direction by Peter Samuel.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.