Writer/Director: John Godber

Reviewer: Cathy Crabb

The Public Reviews Rating:

Al (Rob Angell) and Bet (Wendi Peters) have had- like the set and costume implies- all the colour drained from their twenty-odd year relationship. Al has had to take redundancy/ early retirement which he spends in the shed making gloomy paintings of industrial scapes, Bet, knowing and sensitive to his creative side reassures him that they are ‘not very good.’ To relieve the monotony of the rubbish life she has at home, Bet drags her miserable chops to work and back every day cheering herself up occasionally by buying a colourful scarf and entering competitions in Bella.

Then when Bet wins a P and O cruise to Paris and ‘frog’ marches Al under duress because it might be romantic; the story begins. Tight arse Al is lured by the freebies but also embarrassed he can’t provide those things himself, although it is clear he never would take her on a cruise anyway. Bet kind of wishes she took Rita who would have been more of a laugh but soldiers on through it, and after the initial grey life of the first half, the second half of the play begins with the beautiful set of ’gay Paris’ the tower, windmill and arc twinkling and the audience gasping at the spectacle, making us want to be there.

It’s a funny play with some great one liners, like when Bet has been dancing away at the cruise disco and says to Al ‘Oh I haven’t danced like that in years!’ to which Al replies, ‘Nobody has.’ And it is worth watching to delight in Wendi Peter’s comedy reactions and expressions which really made it for me. Rob Angell as Al- the shed ridden maudler out of his comfort zone, makes us feel how helpless the character is to change his fate by his brow beaten expressions being constant and his tone always one of slight indignation with a tinge of fear. There are also some lovely moments, one being when quite close to the end of their trip, and warming to each other, they refer to each other by name and you realise that is the first time they’ve done that. In these moments, even more than all the delicious sights and sounds that have bemused, provided comedy and astounded them in Paris; we find something that could keep the couple endeared to one another.

When they return to their lives they know they have tasted something that will never completely be theirs, and they are both endeavouring to win more competitions to go abroad, which I felt sad about. Al’s painting of Paris is awash with vibrant colours and gave hope that there was something they could salvage and celebrate in the time they shared and there was hope that between the daily trudge they were working towards other exciting times to come.

Runs until Sat 2nd April

 

Tags: April in Paris, Hull Truck Theatre, John Godber, Lowry Theatre, Rob Angell, Salford, Wendi Peters