Bennett, Steadman and Orton

Went to see Alan Bennett's Enjoy starring Alison Steadman and David Troughton last night. Our friend Lou had two tickets for her birthday, and after a little wrangling amongst "the gang" I was designated New Best Friend Forever for the evening.

We both mused at the realisation that this was the first play either of us had seen for a long time that wasn't a musical... But what a treat it turned out to be!

The "action" all takes place inside one of the last of the "back-to-backs" in Leeds, amongst the rubble of "slum clearance". Connie (Mam) is going a bit senile, and Dad (Wilf) is a miserable old sod ("since the hit-and run"), and is looking forward to the comforts of a new maisonette (although secretly he would miss the regular caller who supplies him with smutty mags).

Their lives are rudely interrupted by a visitor, a young lady who is apparently "from the Council", tasked with making a day-by-day observation of the lives of these "real people" for some mysterious social record, and it is from this moment on that the farce develops. Of course, the observer - who is not allowed to speak to the couple - is not exactly who she seems. And the "real life" behaviour of Connie, Wilf, and their "personal assistant" (prostitute) daughter Linda is anything but normal...

The plot twists and turns in a manner that would make Joe Orton proud, with some hilarious scenes including Dad's unfortunately premature rigor mortis (well in one part of his body anyhow), the arrival of a neighbour (making up "traditional Northern customs" for the observers) and the eventual revelation that Miss Craig, the visitor, is in fact the couple's long-lost (and to Dad, denied existence) son!

As you would expect, the acting is superb, some of the lines are Alan Bennett at his best ("I keep that toilet like a palace"), and the whole endeavour is a brilliantly woven combination of dark humour, slapstick and gritty observation of a dying way of life.

Highly recommended!

Read Charles Spencer's review in The Telegraph.