An Hour and a Half Late

Nick (09Mar22): I did not enjoy it. Empty and vacuous not even the hard work of Janie Dee could save it. She is luminous throughout, the main problem if Gryff. He just tries too hard and ends up being as monotonous as his character. I really wanted to enjoy this play but ended up wanting to throttle the pair of them. Quite why the Sunday Times review was so ecstatic is beyond me. 1

SilverSurfer (03Mar22): I have never before so wanted to leave a play prior to its conclusion.. a cringingly empty female married to a nice if perhaps boring Tax Consultant, both approaching retirement - which she views as a terminal illness. Apparently having done nothing of worth since marriage, giving up her career for the children (really? And obviously she was incapable of even charitable work) has led a selfish, self-centred life. What was entertaining? Being many years older than her, retirement was the start of being my own boss! Two characters with no money worries, 3 healthy children, a new grandchild and no serious illnesses apart from the wife’s midlife crisis (where she takes delight in bringing everyone down). I am familiar with depression (my mother was bi-polar) but this was utterly trivial and if it intended to show a delicate mind suffering, it failed miserably. One or two funny lines in an otherwise boring hour which was like being at a dinner party and watching a domestic ‘discourse’ between two people who were not even YOUR friends! 1