Poignant Message in a Bottle, ‘The Local’ is a play with singing rather than a full-scale musical. Apart from the occasional choice language, the show is more or less suitable for all.
This Sheffield based company have assembled a very credible cast of ‘regulars’ who probably are the survivors of the traditional pub on the corner, but also probably illustrate why small local pubs are closing, which is opposite to the message the writer wants to get across.
The show is at its most powerful with a song from the know-it-all teacher who pricks the conscience that every pound spent in large chain pub is another nail in the coffin of ‘The Local’.
The characters are well drawn, Liz the landlady has been there since her Dad managed the pub and is a strong-willed opponent for the Developers who want to create flats from the pub. There is Terry, the lonely bore, the aforementioned teacher and Martin the barman who has settled for a home town existence and a less than challenging occupation. The female characters include two friends one who stayed at home and the other who left town.
The production illustrates well how best friends can drift apart. Sue, the outside campaigner only stays around when the campaign around closure is winning but bails out when the going gets tough. That leaves Robbie, the young drink scrounger who gets barred under somewhat mysterious circumstances which was not clear to the audience.
Talking of the audience, it was early afternoon and the cast and three supporting musicians outnumbered those who paid to get in by some distance.
The songs were patchy, from very good to O.K. and I would suggest that they find a few beer crates to elevate the bar staff who are at times badly masked by the customers.
‘The Local’ was always interesting and the outcome? You will need to get a ticket.
7-19 August, 2pm