The Good Life
by Jeremy Sams original authors John Esmonde and Bob Larbey
Louth Playgoers
Riverhead Theatre Louth
8 - 11 March 2023
The latest show to grace the stage at Louth's Riverhead comedy is a fresh take on television sitcom favourite, The Good Life. The original with its stellar cast of Richard Briars, Felicity Kendall, Paul Edington and Penelope Keith is a much-loved seventies comedy that can still be found on cable channels, amusing new audiences to this day.
It is no surprise then that the stage version at Louth's Riverhead Theatre is practically a sellout already. If you want tickets to this hilarious comedy, directed by Daniel Wakefield and co-directed by Laura Martin, then you will have to be quick as they are going very fast. And I guarantee that you will be sorry if you miss out.
The stage set is a modest kitchen belonging to Tom and Barbara Good and a more opulent dining room that s the domain of Margot and Jerry Leadbetter next door. The husbands are firm friends who work together and their wives couldn't possibly be more different. Barbara is free-spirited and forward-thinking, whereas Margot is stuck-up and highly image-conscious. All of which makes a great set up for this comedy. The Goods decide to leave the rat race of traditional work and to embrace environmentalism and self-sufficiency, much to the disbelief of Jerry and the disgust of Margot. The chalk and cheese couples riotously follow their chosen lifestyles but continue to learn from each other and we see that it takes al sorts to make the world work.
As the titular Goods, we have John Hewer and Katherine Briggs. The two performers know each other very well from previous work together and give magnificent performances as Tom and Barbara. Hewer is a towering comic presence who should really have been born earlier as he would have exceled in this sort of television sitcom in the Seventies and would have become rather successful at it too. As it is, his performance as Tom is big, broad and very funny. His tendency to want to break the fourth wall on stage is mischievous and hilarious to watch but he restrains himself (mostly) in this performance. As Barbara, Katherine Briggs really shines. She too would have been a perfect foil in the original sitcom. Se is dryly funny, sweet and affable. Her persistent teasing of those around her is hilarious and she plays with such wit and charm that you would all wis you had her as a Barbara in your own life!
The Leadbetters are very different people. As the much put-upon Jerry, Riverhead favourite Ray Baker is wonderful. He manages to tease and be teased, to inspire and amuse all he comes into contact with and you can see why he and Tom are such good friends - above and beyond being neighbours and work colleagues. At various points, Jerry supports the Goods and the Goods support the Leadbetters. It is a co-dependent relationship that simply works.
Perhaps the hardest task in the whole show falls to actress Jo Cox, playing Margot. This role, originated by legendary national treasure Penelope Keith, is iconic. Cox manages to allay any fears of being a mere shadow of Keith's performance and attacks the role with relish and exquisite comic delivery. I simply loved watching Margot during this show.
There are numerous supporting characters who each offer much to the narrative movement of the show but do not feature quite so prominently. Andy Vallely is the pot-smoking pig man and a rather lecherous police officer in different scenes. Freya Tate gives a great performance as a marketing assistant, a milkman and a vet's receptionist which involves an insanely fast costume change at one point! As "Sir" - Tom and Jerry's boss - Chris Leeworthy is a terse businessman with a penchant for the expensive things in life, who doesn't necessarily bother with those below him. His rather glamorous but slightly under-educated wife is played by Natalie Clark who also brings everything to a smaller role to make it memorable.
Finally, Chris Rozier had me chuckling wickedly as the doctor who has to keep reminding everyone that he is a REAL doctor and nota vet, proving that there are no small parts just small actors.
I watched a dress rehearsal of this show, when it still had over a week before it opens to an audience and it was clear to everyone that this is a cast that is having a riot working together and for each other. I did witness giggles and fluffed lines followed by adlibs, and I loved it all the more for it. The cast is busily sharpening the performance and testing some very cleverly created props. By the time it is unveiled to its audience, the play is going to land perfectly on their funny bone and those lucky enough to get tickets will have a great night at the theatre. Well done to all involved.
Andy Evans
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