The Victoria Theatre, Halifax – until 19th October 2024
Reviewed by Sal E Marino
5*****
Rita, Sue and Bob Too is a cult classic 1980s film and most people of a certain age can quote its golden lines that one never tires of hearing so, imagine seeing it live! The anticipation of hearing Sue’s dad spouting “send em on Manningham Lane, it’s the best place for them” just builds and builds! The audience members at the fabulous Victoria Theatre, Halifax, (where you always receive a warm Yorkshire welcome) couldn’t wait to hear those ionic phrases and were cheering loudly when the very talented acting crew delivered them! Screen-to-stage adaptations don’t always work as well, especially one where the film is loved so much as the expectations are almost too high to measure up to but I found that Andrew Ashley’s (Artistic director) and Andy Fretwell’s (Managing Director) Rita, Sue and Bob Too was more enjoyable than the film! The main reason for this is that I feel Ashley and Fretwell have done the brilliant Andrea Dunbar (the original play’s writer) justice and to understand that you need to go and see it. For me, the uncomfortable elephant in the room that permeates throughout the film has finally been resolved. We all booed Bob at The Victoria at the end. And yet, there was no anger, the play did NOT lose any humour at all, it was hilarious, just different – but in a good and better way.
It’s a very raw, harsh but strangely touching piece of popular theatre that encapsulates the mood of the 1980s. Thatcher’s Britain, when a generation of men realised that their jobs-for-life, (especially in certain northern industries) were now gone and ‘they’ were no longer needed – obsolete – they didn’t fit into the new corporate, financial world. So, what happened to some of them such as on those on the Buttershaw estate in Bradford? Unfortunately drink, depression and a vicious cycle of poverty and abuse of various kinds ensued. Pretty grim – so it’s amazing how this play, with all it’s dark sides can evoke such laughter, that in the face of such adversity we can chuckle along at the dialogue.
Beginning with the scene on the moors, where sleazy Bob played by Dale Vaughan first seduces Rita and Sue really sets the play’s narrative and although it’s obviously uncomfortable the girls are hilarious! It’s not how I remember it in the film because I’m now a grown-up (with a child just a bit older than Rita and Sue) so I have a new perspective. Both Emma Hooker (Rita) and Polly Lovegrove (Sue) are so believable in their roles as these two teenagers who sadly have no hopes, no dreams and no aspirations. They just want to live in a house that has space, quiet and no screaming and shouting. If that involves being with a slime-ball older man like Bob (who would inevitably cheat on them too like he was with them), then that isn’t a problem because they want to be Michelle (Louisa Maude) – who in their eyes has it all – nice clothes and nice things (typical of a teenagers). The way this came out on stage highlighted the girls’ vulnerability, young age, lack of guidance, care and nurturing love. That aside, the action and pace of the play just flows as the multi-media backdrop clips of news and events of 80s flash up on stage. We are reminded of the wave of the times – protests, riots, anger, disease, despair along with greed and ‘loads a money’ … which made one reflect about those issues and their relevance today.
Andrew Ashley, who plays ‘Dad’ stole the show. From the look, the walk, the line delivery – Ashley totally embodied the whole essence of the character and burnt it up! I could have watched a drama of just him arguing and sparing with ‘Mum’, Alison Gibson. These two are comedy gold, like Jim Royal and his long-suffering wife except with an edge. The swearing, the insults and threats weren’t solved by having a chocolate digestive and a brew – more like a bottle of vodka to knock them out of their depressing reality.
This play and whole production has the heart the size of Yorkshire – big, warm and it keeps beating and going even when times are tough! A wonderful tribute to Andrea Dunbar – it’s a blast, you’ll love it!