I’m not sure I remember the classic BBC series, ‘Waiting for God’, which may be a good thing when such luminous work is recreated for the stage. Moreover, when characters are defined by such legendary TV actors, the translation is hard. Think of the stage show Porridge without Barker - it cannot work at the level it did on tele, and it didn’t.

So, not expecting much beyond a superficial reprint of an original, I went to opening night with rather low expectations - oh boy, was I wrong.

This absolutely endearing production, starring Stuart Lawson and Sarah Hubbard as the conniving couple at Bayview Retirement Home is nothing short of stellar; and is the outstanding production in the Priory’s season.

As the cantankerous and cunning Diana Trent, Hubbard imbrues her work with a multi-layered and utterly mesmerizing performance - funny and farcical, then resilient, raunchy and, yes, romantic. She is wonderfully cast against the excellent Stuart Lawson, an actor whose command of the stage, comic-timing and emotional depth is so relaxed, he could be on TV. This is where director Anita Dalton shines. Her production could be filmed; such is the understated realism of the evening. A beautiful design, clever and inventive, uses the theatre’s technology to beautiful effect. Just the right amount of projection is used, a suite of soulful music elevates the mood into scenes, which are lit wonderfully by Tony Dalton. It is, in essence, televisual.

Notwithstanding, it is Dalton’s skill with the text and actors that has fused this company together.
They’re in a good play, but they have a fine time. Indeed, the laughter was so loud on opening night that at one point, a performer had to pause to let it stop! There’s excellent work aside from the two leads. Mike Tildesley is toe-curlingly good as Harvey, the retirement home’s cynical, scheming manager. Jane Edwards is wonderfully endearing as Karen Evans and the rest of the company supports with outstanding work.

The show is funny, poignant and, dare I say it? Raunchy. One doesn’t expect such behaviour in a retirement home, but that’s the beauty of this script. Expect the unexpected. To say more would give the game away, but suffice it to say, there’s bottomless fun to be had here.

Bottom line: Top-of-game acting, direction and design in this five-star Priory hit. A must-see.

Mark Pitt
ukvox.com