This revival of a 1986 play by Jim Cartwright had a timely feel about it. Set in a domestic road that had seen more affluent days, the play essentially exposed us to the lives of the colourful inhabitants. It felt a bit like a caricature of an angle on Brexit Britain at first - populated by those just about managing at best. The dialogue was interesting - almost poetic or rapping at times. It reminded me slightly of Dylan Thomas.
It was incongruous having this portrayal of urban deprivation playing out in a theatre in the most affluent district of London. Perhaps the location made one think more than had it been in, say, Hackney. And what did it make one think? I'm not sure there were so many takeaways beyond the obvious. These people felt as if in a separate country, somewhat abandoned to their fate and left to drink themselves to death with sex as a highpoint to add to the escape. Frankly, I don't expect to recall much of this play in a year's time but it was certainly an engaging evening and felt a good deal more worthwhile than Gloria the Monday before.
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