Magazine


Dutch treat sees Godber back at his best

by George Dodds
23/ 6/2005

FINALLY John Godber has discovered the secret to growing old disgracefully.

After a couple of competent plays which reminded us of his trademark eye for comedy dialogue without having the bite of his early classics such as Bouncers or Up and Under, he really delivers again with Going Dutch.

And the key to it all is the brooding, menacing presence of former porn star, ex-jailbird and all-round Yorkshire hardcase Karl.

Superbly played by Rob Hudson, the boneheaded, borderline psychotic boyfriend of Gill (Jackie Lye) is the catalyst as college pals Mark (James Hornsby), Sally (Gemma Craven) and Gill survive the North Sea crossing from Hell only to see their lives turned upside down.

Mark - for whose 50th birthday the threesome's trip to see Bruce Springsteen in Holland has been arranged - has always fancied Gill - and, it turns out has been sending her money for holidays for a number of years. As the inspiration for his career as writer of children's music has dried up so has his marriage to Sally, the unhappy, middle-class mother of three.

Alcohol and cynicism are the only ingredients left and Mark's jealousy at Gill's voyage of emotional and sexual discovery with Karl builds as the first act progresses.

Once in Amsterdam the wheels really fall off for Mark and Sally - not helped by the fact that one of Karl's films is playing on the in-room porn channel - as the arguments take their toll.

Things take a turn for the worse when Sally unknowingly scoffs a huge Amsterdam "speciality" cake and discovers that her legs have lost the ability to work - a hilarious scene in which Craven had the audience rolling in the aisles.

One argument too many - over whether Karl's birthday "treat" of tickets to a live sex show - leaves you fearing for the future of Sally and Mark but, in fact, it turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

They may never have got to see Springsteen - and Karl may never discover who Boris is - but the couple - and Godber's reputation as one of the best northern dialogue writers in the business - are firmly back on track by the end of the show. The Lowry until Saturday


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