Jack Studio Theatre – until 25 May 2019
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
John Godber’s 1982 play about the lives of miner Jack and his wife Liz is inspired by his grandparents and is an emotional and nostalgic treat. The story of Jack (Jonny Magnanti) and Liz (Tracey-Ann Wood) is told in reverse, beginning with the actors introducing the characters to the audience and describing their early deaths from the dust and cancer respectively and ending with Jack asking Liz to go out with him.
Looking at the characters through a 21st century lens is problematic, but Jack and Liz are people of their time and environment and are instantly recognisable and relatable. Jack’s poetic aspirations are never quite crushed by the darkness of the pit, and Liz’s time in service and the women she grew up around ensure her focus is keeping a clean house. Their only respite from the daily routine is their annual holiday at the seaside.
Magnanti and Wood have wonderful chemistry as they take us through the couple’s story, with Magnanti keeping Jack’s constant frustration visibly simmering away and Wood brilliant as nervy Liz and a hoot as a rival Welsh miner and her grandson.
Jack’s temper and physicality is quickly brushed under the carpet, much as it would have been in real life, but Godber ensures that Jack is never wholly unlikeable. Godber includes some wonderfully witty and petty arguments that couples get into after so many years together, and there are some wonderfully tender moments as the couple reminisce about music and films. Crucially, love is shown through insults and scorn – the only overt softness we see from Jack is with his grandson in a beautifully executed scene – which is the way it was and is in many British homes. Godber captures the working-class mindset, with all its strengths and weaknesses perfectly without ever becoming overly sentimental – their life was bloody hard. Even though Godber isn’t sentimental, any audience members who grew up in mining or industrial communities may need extra tissues – even with the Yorkshire accents, there were times when I was a sobbing mess as I was transported back to my grandparents’ home in the Welsh Valleys by certain phrases and events.
A wonderful time capsule of a play full of warmth and bittersweet joy, Happy Jack is well worth a look.