Hull New Theatre – until 15th September 2018
Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
4****
Long Live The Kings Of Hull written and directed by John Godber reintroduces us to the King family, last seen in The Kings Of Hull in April 2017. The play is set one year on from Malcolm and Becky King’s anniversary party and Karl King (Peter McMillan) acts as the narrator to the story of the family’s ups and downs. Kealey King (Pippa Fulton) is doing very well and her beauty empire is growing, and she takes it upon herself to move her Mum and Dad, Malc (Martin Barrass) and Becky (Jane Thornton), away from their troublesome neighbours in East Hull and out to Brough. It may be only 8 miles from Hull but to Malc it could be hundreds of miles and he is very unhappy, which is a cue for Kealey to splash some more cash and take all the family for a “Dutch Dash” on the ferry to Amsterdam. It is in Amsterdam that things really start to unravel and the fractures appear in family relationships.
John Godber’s take on family relationships is very astute, and I can’t have been the only person recognizing some of the conversations from my own family! There are laughs a plenty as Malcolm loses his cool; Trevor (Robert Angell) gets lost and Kealey tells it as it is. There are a couple of moments when the action is a little stilted but generally the play zips along. The scenery effectively takes us from Hull to ferry to Amsterdam and back. The cast gel beautifully and it is easy to see the family relationships.
Martin Barrass is an excellent curmudgeonly Malcolm and his relationships with his daughters were raw at times. His rant in Amsterdam was played to perfection and oh so funny! Pippa Fulton (Kealey) and Josie Morley (Jenny) played their roles well, making the family dynamics very believable. Robert Angell is very funny as Trevor, especially on the trip to Amsterdam.
This is an excellent night out at the theatre and don’t worry if you didn’t see the last play this stands well on its own. You will laugh, cringe and recognise your own family up there on the stage but ultimately will leave the theatre feeling good. John Godber gives us some highs and real lows but in the end “Blood is thicker than water”.