The Unfriend by Steven Moffat
Whoops and thunderous applause was the unprecedented first-night response to Harborough Theatre’s new season opener. The witty, sharp and comedic script of The Unfriend certainly tickled everybody’s fancy.
The cast of seven, directed by Chris Raymakers, produced some great characterisations from moody teenagers to eccentric adults.
The three central figures are run-of-the mill couple Peter and Debbie Lindel, who meet crazy American Elsa Jean Krakowski while on a cruise. Elsa invites herself to their UK home and realising they hardly know Elsa, Debbie Googles her and discovers she’s a serial murderer. Throw in two rebellious children and an irritating neighbour and the scene is set for a chaotic few days.
Siobhan Ball excelled as Elsa – like Ruby Wax on acid, simply wonderful from beginning to end. Not surprisingly Elsa’s arrival is greeted with suspicion, but they all fall under her spell.
Stewart Magrath and Tracey Holderness were perfectly cast as Peter and Debbie – he delightfully dithery and she getting more and more angry until she finally ‘lost it’ in a fabulously funny scene.
Joshua Wright and Gwenan Richards were their teenage offspring Alex and Rosie. I have rarely seen youngsters portraying their archetypal selves in such convincing or hilarious style.
Alex Page-Bailey as the neighbour was irritatingly patient with the family and Elsa – but it didn’t end well for him.
Charles Hilsdon added more laughs as PC Junkin, whose arrival culminated in a revolting, but funny toilet scene.
A comedy is always a safe choice, but this was comedy at its best.
Edited from the Harborough Mail review by Gordon Birch (photgraph by John Harrison)
