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Neil
Simons comedy is a set of four light-hearted playlets set
in the same London hotel room.
You
get a bit of thriller and a bit of drama but all are laced with
comedy and some cracking one-liners for which the author is renowned.
You
also get four excellent performers playing all the main parts. It
all sounds like the perfect recipe for a great night out. It is
certainly a good fun and happy evening - but as a piece, left me
wanting a bit more meat.
It
opens with writer Brian pointing a gun at his financial manager,
followed by a daughter setting up her widowed mother on a date with
an allergy-ridden Scot.
The
second half sees a big Hollywood TV star being visited by her dying,
gay ex-husband before a short but straight farce involving everybodys
back giving out - but no vicars!
Attractive
The idea of showing how many different situations can develop in
one hotel room was really attractive but I felt that I wanted the
pieces to be linked by more than just location. There was always
the promise of an exploration of some interesting human situations,
but somehow they were never fully carried out.
I suppose
the whole point was that each situation could be seen in isolation
because hotel rooms are really just stopping points that reflect
a snapshot of life, without any need to know what happens next.
But after a couple of the playlets I did want to know - and after
the others, I didnt care!
Featured
But this is just a criticism of the plays really, because I
wouldn't want to take anything away from the four performers who
take on the lead roles. They were extremely accomplished and put
their all into the words they were given.
The
featured actors are of course John Challis and Sue Holderness, by
virtue of their incredibly popular cult TV partnership as Boycie
and Marlene in Only Fools and Horses.
And
even though both have years of theatre experience between them,
such is the power of television, that many will always associate
them with the national institutions that they created.
But
in these four plays they show their complete versatility both in
look and in character in a variety of roles and prove that, to the
uninitiated, they are not one-trick ponies. You can really understand
why this production would be such an attraction for them.
Funny
As the embezzling accountant, John Challiss attempts to get
out of a sticky situation are very funny and probably closest to
Boycie - although nothing like him, as you can also see real weakness
and fear in the character.
Then
as a famous TV stars dying bisexual husband there is sophistication
and poignancy as he struggles to retain his dignity, followed by
his strong performance in the straight farce as the elderly doctor.
Sue
Holderness showed an equally wide range over the course of the evening.
As the widowed mother, her description of the night out with the
bachelor from hell was wonderful and as the English actress who
makes it big in the US (she even dressed and looked like Joan Collins),
she portrayed the generous woman behind the public facade.
And
it was this playlet in particular that made me want at least another
act to carry the story on.
Farce
In the farce, she is the Scottish hotel manager, who deals with
her guests problems as only a professional hotelier can - with matter
of fact impracticality.
Sara
Crowe gives very strong support in her roles but the biggest surprise
for me was Mark Curry. As an ex-Blue Peter presenter I thought that
I would expect him to whip out his sticky back plastic at every
opportunity. In short - I had no idea he could actually act!
But
in this he has actually proved himself to be a wonderful comic actor.
As both the penniless author and the man crippled by back pain,
his timing is impeccable and the audience loved him.
The
one thing that I found annoying though, was the wide range of not
very convincing American accents - I dont think any of the
performers who had to do one, were able to pull it off!
But
that, and the lack of substance aside, this is an enjoyable and
inoffensive night out with a chance to have a few laughs and see
some excellent actors in action.
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