Makes Saturday night in Blackpool look tame!
The play is set in a trashy 70’s disco in Liverpool, England. The action is mainly in the gents and women’s toilets of the disco where both Linda (The Bride) and Dave (The Groom) have decided to hold their stags and hens nights, not knowing that their other half is at the same place. When Linda’s ex-boyfriend, Peter, arrives this causes an uproar between Linda and Dave’s friends and when Linda’s hen party get a say in all that’s happening the two groups gang together to stop Linda taking up the offer of an escape with her ex Peter she is then forced with a difficult decision – to stay or to go.
CAST
Linda – Francesca Smith
Maureen – Megan Royle
Bernadette – Fiona Primrose
Carol – Tabitha Hughes
Frances – Parissa Zamanpour
Dave – Adam Rogers
Robbie – ChrisWagstaff
Billy – Charlie Gallagher
Kav – Josh Evans-Smith
Eddy – Josh Leach
Peter – Ethan Martin
Roadie – Adam Rogers
Production Photographs by Vish Sharma
**** FOUR STAR Review by Rick Bowen for Stagestruck ****
STAGS and Hens (The Remix), Willy Russell’s comedy, fills the Garrick Playhouse with laughter. We laugh as Stag and Hen Nights for Dave and Linda’s forthcoming marriage take place in a run-down Liverpool Club in 1977. What’s more, the bride, played by Francesca Heraghty-Smith and her friend, Megan Royle, who is Maureen, are both getting married for real in the next 12 months.The bride-to-be and groom-to-be, have no idea of each other’s presence. Well done Leslie Mckie for the effective split set revealing men’s and ladies’ lavatories, where the action takes place.
Francesca’s Linda starts to have doubts about her nuptials when she meets an old flame, booked for that night’s gig and doing well. He is Peter. Charismatic Ethan Martin makes him stand apart from the other lads who want his autograph. Adam Rogers’ Dave is already inebriated when he arrives after downing a curry swilled down with alcohol. He spends his time throwing up in the loo and ends up semi-comatose. His best mate, Eddy, who insists that your own happiness should come first, is anti-celebrity.
Linda’s best friend is Frances, played by Parissa Zamanpour. She always puts Linda’s interests first and remains loyal. Megan Royle’s portrayal of naïve Maureen is good. All she wants is for everything to be nice including the joining together of bride and groom. Her sheltered life comes out every time she bursts into tears until Brandy and Babycham come to the rescue.
The Garrick players retain and project their Liverpool accents throughout and indicate good teamwork. As for the bride, her friends think she has come to her senses but has she?
This amateur production of ‘Stags and Hens’ is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.
