Above The Stag Theatre – until 1 March 2020
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Peter Quilter’s sweet and silly comedy is the perfect cure for the winter blues.
Thomas finds waking up in a strange bed with Adam and needing to be reminded of the previous night’s events awkward enough, but when Adam’s mother Barbara bursts in and squeezes into bed for a chat, he almost dies of embarrassment. Barbara bemoans the inhibitions of the younger generation, and constantly overstates about past and present lovers, although for someone who advocates free love, she seems very keen to see her son walk down the aisle for the big wedding she never had.
With scenes beginning with a running joke about Adam’s alarm clock, a short series of morning’s after sees the couple’s relationship develop, despite Barbara’s constant presence – Adam’s previous boyfriend’s either developed stutters or left the country! – leading up to their wedding, organised by Adam’s eccentric Uncle Martin.
With a set straight out of a 1980s bedroom farce and arch delivery and looks to the audience, the play feels like a nostalgic sitcom, full of sexual innuendo but with a warm and cosy message of acceptance and tolerance. First written as a gay play, the straight version has been successful overseas, but this turn to the original version has found the perfect home at Above The Stag in the assured hands of director Andrew Beckett. David Fenne and Chris Cahill are very funny as uptight Thomas and relaxed Adam, bouncing off each other beautifully and making the relationship believable amongst all the farcical moments. In complete contrast, Coleen Daley is hilarious as Barbara, completely over the top and channelling Norma Desmond as she delivers the best lines in the show and Matthew Lloyd Davies gives an insane performance as chemically enhanced Martin.
The Morning After is light and frothy, sometimes filthy fun – a great night out