And she was!
She was also:
Hard.
Fierce.
And as rough as a badger's arse.
I thought she might be too nice for this role but not at all; I think she was the most terrifying Mrs Wilkinson I've seen. But at the end, when she and Billy were saying goodbye you really, really felt she was on the verge of cracking. And did she? Well you know which theatre it's at. It was certainly the toughest goodbye scene I've sat through for this show.
I'm pleased to report the whole show is in good shape and feels more of a whole piece than the previous times I've seen it. It really is superbly written and staged.
Joe Caffrey has gone from playing Tony in the original production 4 years ago to playing Dad now ("and I was only
37 when they took her down from me") and is excellent: I think a younger dad who is in early middle-age rather than well settled into it suits the role more and Joe finds depths in his character's predicament that emphasise this.
Ann Emery still continues to be eccentric, vigorous and totally authentic as Grandma: a perfect performance.
Tom Holland was on as Billy: both his dancing and acting were extraordinary for someone so young. I was amazed and he got a standing ovation at the end of Electricity (and tried desperately to conceal his delight).
Connor Doyle was a funny and totally credible Michael.
And the girl playing Tracy Atkinson was a real scene-stealer: funny, clumsy, awkward and the best Tracy I've seen, though I can't tell from the programme what her name was.
I'm not sure the girl playing Debbie actually understood some of her lines, and that raised a question in my own mind - how on earth do you direct a nine-year old girl to make a gesture when using the word "wanker".
(that's a rhetorical question - no need for an answer, thank you; I'm about to make my cocoa)
Updated On: 10/2/09 at 04:37 PM
