REVIEW | The Good Life, Little Theatre Leicester
Credit: Sally EvansWritten by Hollie
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
This show contains frequent bad language.
Based on the 1970’s TV series of the same name, this charming production of The Good Life provides a happy picture of life in 1976. The scene is set, with lemon printed wallpaper and retro Kelloggs Cornflakes, as two couples in a suburb of Kingston-upon-Thames, work hard to maintain their standards of living and ensure their neighbours aren’t talking about them behind their net curtains.
The show opens with Tom Good, played brilliantly in this by Freddie Dobrijevic, and the beginning of his mid-life crisis on his 40th birthday. Tom begins to think that there is more out there to life than working 9 to 5 in an office designing plastic toys for children to find in cereal boxes. When Tom announces to his wife Barbara, played by Liz Kavanagh, that he would like to quit his stable job and live self-sufficiently off the land, Barbara is surprisingly not against the idea.
The news of living a self-sufficient life is seen as absolutely absurd by Tom and Barbara’s next door neighbours, Margo and Jerry. The play portrays the changes in the couples lives across the four different seasons in a year and allows for complete escapism for you as the audience member. The show, directed by Ruth Cheetham, is a breath of fresh air and allows you to be swept away from your own life in the rat race and continuously reminds you that life is good.
Amongst the many animals living at Tom and Barbara’s is Geraldine the goat who provides many of the laugh out loud moments throughout the show. However, this production is hilarious throughout and is a perfect show for a Winter’s evening in February.
Jerry, played by David Lovell and Margo, played by Alexandra Elliott, also represent their characters in an authentic and hilarious way, as they begin to learn how the other half live whilst they live with Tom and Barbara as their house undergoes renovation. Margo and Jerry see how their neighbours, otherwise now known as the peasants, live day-to-day and begin to understand why Tom and Barbara have decided to choose that particular lifestyle.
The production reminds us of a time gone by, and highlights the changes in society as the couple learn to live off the land with very little money.
The scenery in the production designed by Abby Glover, is absolutely brilliant and adds another dimension to the show. The scenery realistically represents 1970s houses and almost is another character throughout the show. Some ornaments and decorations reminded you of the era, it’s quite unbelievable that that was 50 years ago!
All of the actors were sublime throughout the show so well done to them for a brilliant opening night. I would highly recommend going to see this production, but book soon as the show has sold out for one of its performances on Saturday!
Leicester Drama Society’s production of ‘The Good Life’ continues at The Little Theatre in Leicester until Saturday 10th February 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
