PERFECT PITCH. To 21 April.

Tour.

PERFECT PITCH
by John Godber.

Hull Truck Tour to 21 April 2007.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.
Review: Ranjit Khutan 26 March 2007 at New Vic Theatre Newcastle-under-Lyme.

A hugely funny observational comedy written and directed by John Godber.
.Ron and Yvonne are looking forward to a well-earned retirement and taking holidays in their brand new caravan. Newcomers to the highly competitive caravanning pastime, they pitch their caravan as far away as possible from the other caravanners – and with Ron’s hilarious efforts trying to get the awning up, Yvonne reminds them it’s a good job they did.

But the distant sound of gentle waves crashing and birds singing in their peaceful hideaway is rudely shattered by the arrival of Steph and Grant, who have pitched up next to them. What ensues is a hilarious clash between the classes and tastes.

Julie Higginson’s Yvonne and James Hornsby’s Ron receive hoots of laughter early on in the play. However, Kate Baines’s Steph and Adrian Hood’s Grant send the audience over the edge in uncontrollable fits of laughter - surprised by the clever and unexpected twist to their arrival.

Godber uses an uncomplicated structure in his play to give full focus to the hilarious one liners and comic observations he makes about caravan enthusiasts. In this way his clever script shows the dichotomy between these two couples. Take for example Hood’s Grant, a man of few words, compared to Hornsby’s Ron the retired headmaster with the ability to explain how he feels.

The girl’s night out scene is hugely entertaining too as is the day-after-the-night-before scene. However, the play doesn’t fully deal with some issues that are hinted at, the ending feels a little unfinished and some elements of the staging do not consider the sightlines of the audience in the round. Despite these minor points, Perfect Pitch is a delightfully warm and funny play which will leave you chuckling to yourself long after you have left the theatre.

Steph: Kate Baines.
Yvonne: Julie Higginson.
Ron: James Hornsby.
Grant: Adrian Hood.

Director: John Godber.
Designer: Pip Leckenby.
Lighting: Graham Kirk.
Music: John Pattison.

2007-04-02 00:25:59