The Good Life

 

Review by Paul Towers, 5/2/24

The Good Life adapted by Jeremy Sams, based on the TV series by John Esmonde & Bob Larbey

Directed by Ruth Cheetham

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 10^th February 2024

“the laughs start from the beginning and don’t stop”

Way back in 1975 this heart warming, funny little sitcom first hit the airwaves and was an immediate hit.

Originally written as a vehicle for the incredibly talented Richard Briers it made stars of the other three regular cast members, Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith. To this day reruns of the show remain popular. 

The stage version which emerged in 2021 is an amalgamation of four of the best episodes and sticks to the same format in four acts.

Tom & Barbara Good are fed up with the office rat race and decide to live ‘off grid’ and be self-sufficient by growing their own veg and keeping livestock in the back garden, much to the horror of their next door neighbours Jerry and Margo Leadbetter. Tom (Freddie Dobrijevic) is like a teenager who has just discovered puppies, overexcited and flailing around from one obsession to another. His adoring wife Barbara (Liz Kavanagh) is the practical one in the relationship, constantly reigning in her husband to be more practical. Jerry (David Lovell), Tom’s ex-boss, is hen pecked by his wife and downtrodden by his lot in life. Then we come to Margo (Alexandra Elliot) Jerry’s imperious wife with no sense of humour and often the butt of Tom and Barbara’s teasing. This solid quartet of characters are supplemented by various characters played by Jon Worthy, Clare Snow, Carissma Griffiths and Ian Salmon.

The set, designed by Abbey Glover, is a very clever visualisation of the two homes side by side. Each side is lit according to where the action is. This enables very fast switching of locations, which adds to the comedy.

The laughs start almost from the start and keep coming all evening. Every cast member is spot on with their timing.

Especial highlights of the show have to be Margo’s increasingly over the top frocks and, of course, Geraldine the goat!

The Good Life runs at The Little Theatre until Saturday 10^th February. Grab a ticket and relive the 70’s

 

Pics: Sally Evans

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