A kIck in the Baubles

Sutton Arts have rekindled a little known gem with this production.

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It is a family, domestic, one set,  melodrama which borrows from Alan Aykbourn’s  “seasons’ greetings” and Mike Leigh’s “ Abigail’s Party”.

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Written by Gordon Steel for the  estimable Hull Truck theatre company,  “ A Kick in the Baubles” is an edgy piece, combining  family chaos with the dramatic discomfort of Abigail’s Party. There is humour aplenty, tension, and a happy ever after ending which is a little too twee  for my liking – as the prodigal daughter returns.

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Steel grew up in the North East in Stockton as a “Smoggie” a Smog Monster from Middlesborough. The dialogue is wry, dry and authentic and eerily akin to   fellow  writer Geordie  Ian le Frenais and his work with hit television series “The Likely Lads”.

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 Recently unemployed Frank and his long suffering wife Jean are the pivot around which the action unfolds. A visit from jeans haughty   sister and ageing Lothario husband Harry is to be endured, not enjoyed.

Uninvited  neighbours karaoke King  Gary (Dan Holyhead )  and his own dimensional  wife ( Bex Perry) provide the physical  comedy and bawdiness.

Why are the greatest protagonists for karaoke the biggest boors? Bex brought out her Broad St best with the lowest cut top possible and shortest pvc mini skirt. The entire front row was agog as she took her curtain call bow.

 Milly Bailey (tilde Porter) has the difficult task of playing the errant daughter straight, and does so well amidst the comic mayhem

The proceedings are salami slice into two acts subdivided into eight scenes announced by an onstage screen, creating a soap opera feel.

Steel,  serves up two cups of bawdy , fizzing comedy to one of sentimentality, and piles up the clichés and one line gags as high as the Ferrero Rocher.

The play’s central character Frank,  combines a world weary ennui with a razor sharp vision of what is around him and a waspish turn of phrase in expressing it in a warm, satisfying production