Billy Liar

Last night's outing was to Oldham Coliseum http://coliseum.org.uk/  The show, Keith Waterhouse's Billy Liar. The production company Middle Ground Theatre Company http://www.middlegroundtheatre.co.uk/

It's a very Northern play.  One which anyone from the North can easily relate to.  The set was just, one very typical 1930s era semi-detached.  Nearly all the scenes were in the living room.  The set is probably the best I've seen at the Coliseum.  Everything was spot on.

The story is about Billy Fisher.  A young man with dreams much larger than his capabilities.  He doesn't seem to grasp the reality of his limitations and leads a fantasy life without much of a grasp on reality.  Much to his father's annoyance.  As is to be expected in this type of play, we get laughs tempered with some poignant moments.  Things never end up quite as you expect.  You could see some of the turns coming but it didn't mar the experience at all.

The strongest point was the cast, well most of the cast.  They were great.  The actor playing Billy (Nathan Hannan) brought the levity needed to the role.  With the cheeky charm Billy gets by on.  His mother, played excellently, by tv favourite, Helen Fraser seems to be a long suffering woman.  Dealing with an ageing, bored mother and a son with his head off in the clouds.  She was my favourite of the cast.  His grandmother (Sally Sanders) did an excellent job at being very, very irritating.  By the end of the first act I was ready to throttle her myself!  Barbara is played by Julia Mallam.  She was perfect as the stiff, inhibited, romantic girlfriend.  His father (Chris Grahamson) played his part well.  You got his infuriation at his son's lack of a grasp on reality and responsibility.  The only two characters I felt were played a little weakly had much smaller parts so didn't impeed my enjoyment of the play.

My question is - Do they have Southern plays as well as Northern ones?  I've never seen one.  Maybe they're only shown South of Birmingham?

I'd give this 4 out of 5 pawprints.

I will definitely be seeing more Middle Ground productions.  If they're in your neck of the woods I recommend you give them a try yourself.

Oldham Coliseum currently has an offer of free tickets to anyone under the age of 26.  An offer to good to refuse if you live nearby.