MY NIGHT WITH REG: Elyot, Bham Rep till 12 October
MY NIGHT WITH REG: Kevin Elyot
Birmingham Rep: Tkts 0121 236 4455, www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 1h 40m, no interval, till 12 October (in rep with Dealer's Choice)
Review: Rod Dungate, 17 September 2002
Sparkling wit and comedy supports an energetic play with a bleak message.MY NIGHT WITH REG is a bleak play: not that you feel like that when you're watching it Elyot's script sparkles with wit and energy. Just as for the characters in the play, comedy makes it all bearable.
Guy has just had his flat made over (Eric the cute decorator is still putting the finishing touches) and he invites a few friends round to christen it. Friends from university days, Daniel and John (with whom he's been in love for many years) and odd-couple Bernie and Benny. Daniel is partner of Reg, with whom we eventually learn, John has been having an affair. So have most of the other characters at one time or another except Guy. Guy is desperate to be loved, destined to be single and everyone's most needed friend he's all give!
Elyot, aided and abetted by director Angus Jackson, keeps the emotional swings and roundabouts swinging and spinning as character after character discovers that life has little to offer except more swings and roundabouts and glimpses of a happier time in their youth. 'I love you' is their mantra. In a marvellous theatrical coup Elyot demonstrates that the fragile happiness the characters find can only be sustained on the back of a lie. A dark view.
Paul Hickey's love starved Guy is a joy. He perfectly creates a character we would love to like but not want to love. Never slipping into caricature, his manners and movements are gauche he is a man as out of touch with his body as he is with his emotions. He reveals a rich pile of humour for us we may laugh at him, but we hate ourselves for doing it.
Martin Turner's conservatory-obsessed Bernie manages to bore the characters while amusing us (and haven't we all got stuck with characters like that at a party) while James Loye's decorator Eric comes into his own in the last scene demonstrating a welcome warmth and some fine timing.
This is a strong company: REG is paired with the same company in DEALER'S CHOICE we look forward to it.
Guy: Paul Hickey
John: Patrick Baladi
Eric: James Loye
Daniel: Pearce Quigley
Bernie: Martin Turner
Benny: David Hounslow
Director: Angus Jackson
Designer: Jonathan Fensom
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Dialect Coach: Jeanette Nelson
2002-09-18 11:01:59