Earl Grey Tea Takes On
Workman’s Tea
Things We Do For Love by Alan Ayckbourn
Newcastle Theatre
Royal
Until Saturday
21 June 2014.
Alan Ayckbourn’s
fabulous comedy takes us to October 1996. Frequently the farce had the crowd in
stitches as it explored the complex lives of four characters who live under the
same roof.
 |
| Natalie Imbruglia & Claire Price |
Claire Price is
superb as the, sometimes outrageous, single Barbara. She used to be the Head
Prefect at school and nick-named “Spike” as a reference to how she dealt with
her peers. She has turned her childhood home into flats. Below her floor is the
postman Gilbert who is gives the audience many opportunities to laugh thanks to
Simon Gregor’s brilliant comic timing. Former school-mate Nikki, played by the
wonderful Natalie Imbruglia in her stage debut, has agreed to take on the
upstairs flat with her fiancé Hamish, a role which Edward Bennett obviously
relishes.
 |
| Simon Gregor & Claire Price |
The designer
Giles Cadle has produced a proficient stage set which focuses on the middle
floor but enables to audience to have a partial view of the other two floors.
Laurence Boswell’s direction leaves some of the action to the imagination on
these other two floors.
 |
| Edward Bennett & Natalie Imbruglia |
As soon as
Hamish enters the house the battle of wills ensues between the independent and strong
minded Barbara and a man she immediately forms an opinion about, as he is
vegetarian. As the interdependence of the housemates is explored, the natures
of the various relationships are exposed.
 |
| Edward Bennett, Natalie Imbruglia & Claire Price |
Natalie Imbruglia
makes a confident start to her stage career and Simon Gregor is at the centre
of many light hearted moments. Claire Price does an awesome job anchoring the
story together and, along with Edward Bennett, she propels the audience through
a range of emotions.
Things we do for
love is a fabulously funny treat.
Things we do for
love is a fabulously funny treat.
Things We Do
For Love continues at
Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 16 – Sat 21 Jun (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm). Tickets are available from £13.00 (a
booking fee of 95p - £1.95 will apply to most tickets) and can be purchased
from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and
book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Photo credits:
Nobby Clark
This review was
written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo
PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen
@panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo
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