Russell classic is getting a Little outing
DO YOU think Beaujolais nouveau should be served chilled, or at room temperature? Is dishing up hachis parmentier for your guests, while listening to Richard Clayderman, the height of sophistication?
These are just two of the questions to consider in classic comedy One For The Road, the first of two SDC productions by famous Merseyside playwright Willy Russell in our current season.
The second will be the play version of Blood Brothers, an SDC youth production in March.
In One For The Road Dennis Cain feels suffocated, frustrated and reduced by the trappings of his surroundings.
He lives with his wife, Pauline, and their son in a bungalow in phase two of a newly developed middle class housing estate in an undisclosed town in the Liverpool commuter belt; a maze of confusingly similar homes in carbon copy crescents, all with mod cons, water features and garden gnomes.
This deliciously funny and painfully well observed play centres round a dinner party hosted by the Cains who have invited their neighbours and long-term friends, Roger and Jane Fuller, to dinner.
The foursome were once young and carefree.
Roger and Jane now exemplify the pretentions and game playing necessary to climb the social ladder on the manicured estate which is currently plagued by wave of bizarre and creative vandalism, all blamed on “those Parnes kids”.
Dennis longs to break out of this plastic suburban existence, leave the Tupperware and tennis clubs behind, ditch the digital dimmer switches, and thumb a lift back to the adventures of his youth. Has he got the guts to do it? His frustration becomes more and more apparent as the evening goes on.
We are led to speculate whether he will finally crack, grab his rucksack and head towards the nearest junction of the M6.
Will we learn why Dennis keeps the bureau locked – what secrets could it contain?
Although written in 1976, One For The Road was first published and per- formed in 1980 and Russell updated the script for a revival in 1985.
It perfectly captures the spirit of aspirational middle class family life in the ’80s, with bubble permed hostesses throwing dinner parties and the whiff of extramarital affairs in the air to add to the tension.
Tracey Batchelor returns to the SDC director’s chair to lead an excellent cast of experienced performers.
Tony O’Keeffe takes the role of Dennis Cain with Jennifer Corcoran as his wife, Pauline. Paul Wilkinson plays Roger Fuller and Sam Roberts is his wife, Jane.
They are ably supported by assistant director and prompt Peter Hoyle.
One For The Road runs from January 26 to February 3.
Blood Brothers is on from March 13-17.
For tickets and show times, ring our box office – 01704 530521 / 530460, see littletheatresouthport.co.uk or Facebook/SouthportLittleTheatre.