REVIEW
Little Theatre Company present
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
by Neil Simon
20-24 February 2018
Little Theatre Company present
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
by Neil Simon
20-24 February 2018
Meet Barney Cashman - he’s 47 years old, happily married and runs a successful seafood restaurant. However, there is one thing that is really bothering him as he grows older and nearer to dying; and that is, what do you do when you feel your life hasn’t been fully lived, when you’ve spent a life that’s been, well, just ‘nice’. It’s the late sixties and the sexual revolution seems to have passed Barney by, but, in a mid-life crisis attempt to play out his fantasises and dreams he seems intent on having an affair at least once; but, hey, this is a Neil Simon play - things are bound to get complicated.
Barney is played brilliantly by Jamie Redgate as a balding, bumbling, nervy kind of guy - think Woody Allen in practically every movie he’s ever been in. He arranges to meet his anticipated lover at his mother’s New York apartment while she is out at work. Never having played the role of seducer before, his attempt to woo Elaine, a customer at his restaurant, inevitably doesn’t run smoothly.
Elaine is played by Lianne Larthe, all big blonde curls and fur coat, who probably has some of the best put down lines in the play and her delivery is spot on. Impatient at Barney’s lack of sexual prowess, her dry sarcasm seeks no bounds as she realises that she’s not going to get anywhere near the bedroom department with him.
Fast forward a few months and Barney has encountered Bobbi Michelle, an actress, in the park and with lessons learned from his previous encounter with Elaine, he seems to be all set to conclude his attempt at an affair. Wrong. Bobbi Michelle, played delightfully by Louisa Strachan looking like she’s come straight out of a production of Hair, is one crazy cookie. She doesn’t stop talking for starters and her paranoia, it would seem, stems from the fact that she smokes pot as medication. There is a wonderful moment when she gets Barney to smoke a joint, with some nicely played subtle slapstick from Jamie, all the while keeping the moment real.
In a last ditch attempt to fulfil his ‘red hot lover’ desires and with lessons learned from his previous disastrous attempts, Barney invites Jeanette, his wife’s best friend, to his mother’s apartment. Within seconds Jeanette, nicely played by Sarah Pettican, is in tears and instantly regretting her decision to come to the apartment, despite Barney’s attempts at restyling his image (well done wardrobe department for that fabulous jumper) and having champagne chilling in the fridge. Jeannette, makes no bones about the fact that she doesn’t even find Barney attractive and depressed over her own husband’s misdemeanours feels unable to go through with their liaison.
Every member of the cast give high levels of performance throughout this production but this really is Jamie's show. In a demanding role where he is never off stage, he really does a fantastic job of endearing you to a character who is essentially a pathetic loser.
There are lots of laughs to be had amongst the pathos of this play and this really is Neil Simon at his best. Julian Cottee, in his directorial debut, has found every one of these comic nuances yet never lets his actors over play them allowing the audience to really believe and invest in these characters. It would seem that Little Theatre Company have discovered a 'red hot' director in Mr Cottee!
The Last of the Red Hot Lovers is playing at the Dixon Studio until Saturday - don’t miss this well cast, fabulously played and hugely entertaining piece of theatre.
Tickets are available online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Barney is played brilliantly by Jamie Redgate as a balding, bumbling, nervy kind of guy - think Woody Allen in practically every movie he’s ever been in. He arranges to meet his anticipated lover at his mother’s New York apartment while she is out at work. Never having played the role of seducer before, his attempt to woo Elaine, a customer at his restaurant, inevitably doesn’t run smoothly.
Elaine is played by Lianne Larthe, all big blonde curls and fur coat, who probably has some of the best put down lines in the play and her delivery is spot on. Impatient at Barney’s lack of sexual prowess, her dry sarcasm seeks no bounds as she realises that she’s not going to get anywhere near the bedroom department with him.
Fast forward a few months and Barney has encountered Bobbi Michelle, an actress, in the park and with lessons learned from his previous encounter with Elaine, he seems to be all set to conclude his attempt at an affair. Wrong. Bobbi Michelle, played delightfully by Louisa Strachan looking like she’s come straight out of a production of Hair, is one crazy cookie. She doesn’t stop talking for starters and her paranoia, it would seem, stems from the fact that she smokes pot as medication. There is a wonderful moment when she gets Barney to smoke a joint, with some nicely played subtle slapstick from Jamie, all the while keeping the moment real.
In a last ditch attempt to fulfil his ‘red hot lover’ desires and with lessons learned from his previous disastrous attempts, Barney invites Jeanette, his wife’s best friend, to his mother’s apartment. Within seconds Jeanette, nicely played by Sarah Pettican, is in tears and instantly regretting her decision to come to the apartment, despite Barney’s attempts at restyling his image (well done wardrobe department for that fabulous jumper) and having champagne chilling in the fridge. Jeannette, makes no bones about the fact that she doesn’t even find Barney attractive and depressed over her own husband’s misdemeanours feels unable to go through with their liaison.
Every member of the cast give high levels of performance throughout this production but this really is Jamie's show. In a demanding role where he is never off stage, he really does a fantastic job of endearing you to a character who is essentially a pathetic loser.
There are lots of laughs to be had amongst the pathos of this play and this really is Neil Simon at his best. Julian Cottee, in his directorial debut, has found every one of these comic nuances yet never lets his actors over play them allowing the audience to really believe and invest in these characters. It would seem that Little Theatre Company have discovered a 'red hot' director in Mr Cottee!
The Last of the Red Hot Lovers is playing at the Dixon Studio until Saturday - don’t miss this well cast, fabulously played and hugely entertaining piece of theatre.
Tickets are available online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135