James Bradshaw (Edward) and Andrew Horton (Christian) - The Way Old Friends Do - credit Darren BellThe ubiquitous Mr Gatiss here directs his performer-turned-playwright husband in a musical play where two previously estranged Brummie school chums — openly gay Edward (James Bradshaw) and Peter who admits to more ambiguous leanings (played by Hallard himself) — rekindle their friendship after an abortive, hurriedly arranged ‘app date‘ organised without the benefit of swapping face pics! Casting aside their initial awkwardness, the pair consume copious quantities of wine, and end up reliving old times and their mutual love for the scandic quartet ABBA. Naturally this causes them to consider the ridiculous possibility of combining their talents and enthusiasm to form… well, there’s no way of breaking this gently… a drag ABBA tribute act!
Yes, the appalling idea once vocalised, cannot be shaken-off and they soon find themselves auditioning female performers to play the male members of the group (the always excellent Sara Crowe as Mrs Campbell and Rose Shalloo as earnestly gabbling Jodie), who between them add oodles of charm and laugh-out-loud moments. Quickly, their tribute band creation (dubbed Head Over Heels in a scene which explores the seemingly endless possibilities of punning) assumes a life all its own. Throw in a sardonic lesbian stage manager (Donna Berlin as Sally) and a handsome rogue (Andrew Horton as Christian) who infiltrates the outfit for his own ends, and the stage is set for all manner of charmingly enjoyable interplay and some absolutely zinging one-liners.
The script contains an entire crop of ABBA lyrics to harvest as you sit attentively absorbing the exchanges and trying to stifle chuckles so as to avoid missing the next hilariously scathing brickbat. The plot takes something of an uncomfortable twist in the second half which stretches the central friendship and requires (perhaps a tad too conveniently) a denouement in which the central characters reflect where their joust with minor celebrity went wrong and exactly who was to blame.
The old adage write what you know about holds true, and Ian (with whom this reviewer had the pleasure of performing in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers a lifetime ago when the world was a simpler and largely kinder place) has actually created something of a coup de theatre. The concept is frankly a ludicrous one and yet, with a wonderful cast all playing quirky misfits, the show genuinely succeeds in tapping the playful Eurovision penchant for joy whilst simultaneously entertaining a perfidious undercurrent which upsets everyone’s complacent applecart.
The famous ABBA nomenclature may cleverly adorn the stage in Janet Bird’s fantastic revolve set, but ultimately it serves as mere backdrop and we never lose connection with the frail humanity of the characters at the centre of this play. They collectively embody hope and happiness, desire and disappointment, randiness and regret. THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO is a fantastic, frolicsome first effort which you’d be foolish to miss.
