October 10, 2004
Good Things
Good Things, a play written by Liz Lochhead
Directed by Maureen Beattie
'I've brought some things...'
'Are they good things?'
This romantic comedy, written by accalimed Scottish writer, Liz Lochhead (best known for her uber-feminist poetry, and other theatre work such as Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off) focuses her writer's eye on a woman named, Susan, who volunteers in a charity shop in Glasgow.
Susan Auld-Love (Annette Staines) is 49 and facing 50 (the 'new 40') and trying to start over trying anything from speed dating, internet dating and even an advert in the lonely heart's column in the sunday paper.
Her sidekick-coworker, Fraser, who walks, talks and acts gay, but isn't, helps Susan on her quest to find romance and helps her deal with the struggles of every day life. Shall I make a list? Ok
- Ex husband
- Ex husband's new girlfriend (who is also newly pregnant)
- Raging hormonic teenage daughter, Steffi
- and a stalker, to top it off
This witty play brings forward the familiar styles and instruments of Lochhead's previous work. She likes to re-use actors, meaning that all but 2 members of the cast had 2, 3 and even 4 different parts to play. Satire, farce and biting wit are also other key ingredients to Lochhead's work.
Tons of one-liners spackle throughout the play, giving a hearty laugh for even the simplest line: 'Did you get a valentine's card? Neither did I'.
'He says 'Aye, Mom. See those burgers? They were mingin'!' Mingin?! You scrimp and save to send them to Hutchie and and they still talk like Neds!'
It's funny. It's satircal. It offers wit, punch one-liners and drama, but is there a problem with this play?
Oui.
Oui, I said, 'Oui'.
My problem with it was the farce. Who has the tie? He has it now? It's got red hearts painted on it? (awww) and Susan sold it to her ex-husband's new girlfriend on Valentine's day? (Oh dear) Can she get it bacK? Does she want to?
The other problem was the 'awwww' factor. New shoes, new love found, they dance to a christmas song in the middle of the charity shop, the lights dim to reveal only a single spotlight on the new happy couple and then...
THEN....
...little silvery bits of confetti fall gently from the nowhere of the flyspace above the stage.
All together now: Awwwwww.
Gag me.
The other problem I had with the play, which was minor and which not many people caught, was the character's allegorical names.
Susan Auld (old) LOVE. (as in what she's searching for...)
David GRIEVE (who is a grieving widower)
At any rate, the acting is superb. I had the pleasure of speaking with Annette Staines after the show one night and she proved to be every bit as friendly and warm as her character on stage. She spoke with me for about 15 minutes about acting, audience reactions and The Dreaded Press (dun Dun DUNNNN!). She was absolutely lovely and reminded me of that drama teacher that we all have at least once in our lives that makes us believe that we can make something of ourselves.
Clever, witty, and superb acting, gives this play 3 halos. Allegorical names (gag) and unnecessarily cheesy ending gives 2 pitchforks for a total of:
