*Warning: This review contains some spoilers*
Despite a few technical difficulties with the lighting, the opening night for Dramasoc’s ‘An Evening
with Gary Lineker’ proved to be a great success, with a packed out Drama Barn that was roaring with
laughter throughout the course of the evening. For those of you who aren’t football fans, have no
fear. This is a comedy about football, that isn’t about football.
Directed by Alex Ferguson (not from Manchester United) the action is set with the backdrop of the
1990 World Cup semi-final between England and Germany. The play follows husband and wife Billy
and Monica, who have gone on a romantic getaway to Spain in an attempt to save their marriage. Of
course, things don’t really go as planned. Not only is Monica (Helen Peatfield) neglected by Billy (Olly
Brassell) so he can watch the football, they are invaded by their socially challenged, eccentric friend
Ian (Harry Whittaker), his desired love interest, the sexy German tourist rep Birgitta (Daisy Hale) and
one of Bill’s football crazed colleagues Dan (Declan Dillane). Bring all these characters together and
you have all the necessary ingredients for a laugh-out-loud comedy (I refuse to use LOL in a review).
Admittedly, the beginning was a little slow paced and the comic timing between Billy and Monica
could have been a little sharper, but when they got into the swing of things these minor issues
simply disappeared. The relationship between Helen Peatfield and Olly Brassell was, in my opinion,
a little too distant, even for a couple trying to recuperate their marriage and it terms of direction,
Monica didn’t seem to be making much of an effort to try and divert Billy’s attention from the
television screen. Having said that, in terms of their dialogue they bounced brilliantly off each other,
delivering their lines in a naturalistic manner that didn’t draw any unnecessary attention to their
witticisms and punch-lines so not to fall over the edge into the melodramatic.
The same cannot be said however for their eccentric friend Ian (played by Harry Whittaker). Before
I give you the wrong impression, what I’m saying here is not a criticism. The character of Ian could
not be played in a naturalistic style; otherwise the main source of comedy for the majority of the
play would be lost. From the moment Harry walked on stage, there was definite change in the
tone. Having previously had the more relaxed, gentle comedy between Billy and Monica, Ian brings
a sudden explosion, unable to stand still, gesturing wildly as he speaks and showing off a rather
impressive repertoire of exaggerated facial expressions. There was never a dull moment whilst Ian
was in the room.
Adding the lovely Birgitta to the mix (played by Daisy Hale), the comedy reached a new level with
Ian’s outrageous and rather ridiculous attempts to woe her and Birgittia’s less than impressed,
uncomfortable expressions. The two of them worked perfectly together. On top of that, Daisy
managed to pull off, and more importantly maintain, a wonderful German accent even when she
was required to start singing a chant. Her acting style found a good balance between the naturalistic
and the melodramatic which worked incredibly when it came to her coming between the eccentric
Ian and the natural Dan.
Declan Dillane’s performance of Dan was arguably the most naturalistic of them all. After his loud
and boisterous entrance, his presence on stage was very natural in relation to the other characters
with very little exaggeration to avoid making it too dramatic. Whereas the rest of the cast managed
to play off each other more successfully in their pairs, Declan effectively played of everyone to the
same effect, but his highlight would probably have to be his flirting with Birgitta whilst fully aware of
Ian’s own intentions which brought about more tensed facial expressions.
I think it is fair to say that the ending was a little out of the ordinary, suddenly abandoning the
performance style they’d been using for the past 90 minutes, then again it still managed to bring
about another wave of hysterics thanks to a special guest appearance carrying a bag of certain
branded crisps (and no, it wasn’t really Gary Lineker).
Overall, ‘An Evening with Gary Lineker’ is definitely one to go and watch. It doesn’t take itself too
seriously and offers an all-round performance with a brilliant cast, brilliant direction and enough
laughs to rival the Comedy Society.
For tickets go to the Dramasoc website. Ends 18/11/2012.
Don’t miss out!