Theatre

With eager anticipation I took my seat at York’s Theatre Royal to watch John Godber’s play Bouncers. I’d first seen it in 1998 and was looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with this hilarious play.

Bouncers is set in and around a nightclub with a cast of four – how does that work then?

Andy Hockley as Lucky Eric.

The four male cast members, in this production it’s Nick Figgis, Davood Ghadami, Andy Hockley and Matthew Rixon, dressed in their DJ’s and black ties play all the parts…the four bouncers (obviously), four young men and four young women all out for a night on the town.

It’s a demanding show for the performers as they are barely off stage and switch from character to character in an instant.

As the girls they mince about the stage with handbags held aloft and for the women in the audience there is something uncomfortably familiar about them as they get very drunk, try to pull, dance round their handbags and end up crying inconsolably in the loos by the end of the night.

Matthew Rixon as Judd.

The lads are rude, crude and after one thing and I’m sure the fellas in the audience also saw something of themselves being parodied on stage. The scene in the gents toilets of ‘Mr Cinders’ nightclub was particularly funny and glancing round the audience I could see some embarrassed faces!

The four bouncers are very different Les (Nick Figgis) is young, impressionable and up for a fight. Ralph (Davood Ghadami) is young, but a bit less volatile and the voice of reason. Judd (Matthew Rixon) is all brawn and very little brain and Lucky Eric (Andy Hockley) is the eldest of the four, and after years of seeing all human life is a troubled man he has had enough.

It’s like seeing stand-up at its funniest but within the confines of a play. It’s rude and crude with strong language, so is not for the young or the easily offended.

Nick Figgis as Les.

But it’s theatre at its best and is a great play for anyone who says “I don’t like going to the theatre.”

So, get your glad rags on, have a few bevies and get yourself down to ‘Mr Cinders’ aka York Theatre Royal and have a great night.

PS – Don’t forget to stop off for a kebab on the way home!

Carole Green