Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell at the Richmond Theatre
Work frequently interferes with my drinking.
Immortalised by the great Peter O’Toole Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell has been revived several times since it won the Evening Standard’s Best Comedy Award in 1990. Robert Powell has now taken over the sceptre and very successfully so. He inhabits the tour-de-force role of the charming and witty yet excessive Jeffrey Bernard and entertains his audience reminiscing about past friends, acquaintances, and a few ex-wives whilst being trapped overnight in his favourite Soho pub The Coach and Horses on Greek Street. From Bernard’s colourful contributions to the Spectator’s Low Life column, fellow Fleet Street legend Keith Waterhouse created this funny and occasionally poignant play now expertly directed by David Grindley.
Robert Powell is supported by four players who portray some of the more or less important people in his life – Mark Hadfield, Peter Bramhill, Amy Hall and Rebecca Lacey. Among the people we get to meet are Dennis Shaw whom Bernard tried to have arrested for being boring, the redoubtable Muriel Belcher, who owned an exclusive club in Soho, and could be hilariously rude to unsuitable customers, Jeffrey’s ex-wives and some of his gambling friends who will not refrain from using their newly born triplets - "who's the lady?" or organize cat races to satisfy their gambling needs.
The play is a bit long and repetitive
at times but it is very entertaining and well worth seeing if you
want to have a good time. The stage set looks so comfy that you
don’t want to remain in the stalls but join Jeffrey at the bar to
watch his egg-trick close up.
Until 11 June 2011
Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
Box
Office
0844 871 7651
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