Funny Money – The Royal Court Liverpool

Writer: Ray Cooney

Director: Leslie Lawton

Reviewer: Helen Patrick

The Public Reviews Rating:

It is hard to know where to start with this show, without giving the whole plot away and thus spoiling the whole show for anyone who wants to go along and have a fantastic night out.

Danny Perkins life is going nowhere he goes to work everyday , does the same boring job, returns home to his wife, eats, sleeps, gets up and it all starts again, That is until the day he steps off the number 86 bus, opens his briefcase to put on his hat and scarf and finds it filled with £2 million pounds all in £50 pound notes a whooping 40,000 of them. This is the kind of dream we all have but will it bring Danny happiness or will it be his downfall.

Danny played by Neil Caple has us in stitches with his antics which even he found hard not to laugh at. While Eithne Brown as Betty, Danny’s straight laced wife who keeps house and makes sure everything is perfect for his return home was brilliant in her portrayal especially when she was supposed to be drunk it was comical. The cast of eight gave an exceptional performance and Mark Moraghan was outstanding in his role as Vic.

There was not a moment when I was not laughing, the way each person portrayed their different characters and with distinct mannerisms you were left in no doubt as to what was happening, it also had some very tongue in the cheek sexual innuendo’s which in my opinion makes this an adult comedy or at least a very older teenager.

The whole play was set in the lounge of Danny and Betty’s house so the set by Billy Meall was simple and effective helped with lighting effects by Pete Bragg.

Funny money is a laugh a minute from beginning to end my ribs are still aching while writing this review, I am also still laughing as I remember various things that happened within the play, this is a definite must see and with its Holby Heart throb Mark Moraghan how can you afford to miss it.