Directed by Michael Fentiman, Stephen Jeffreys’ Valued Friends is at Kingston’s Rose Theatre until October 12th.
The play stars Natalie Casey, Ralph Davis, Sam Frenchum, Michael Marcus, Catrin Stewart and Nicolas Tennant.
It is the 1980’s London,Thatcher’s Britain, a time of upheaval socially, politically and culturally. The decade would see house prices double, and lay the foundations for unsustainable levels of home ownership, the effects of which we still feel today.
The setting is a basement flat in Earls Court. A flat share of four friends in their mid-thirties who have lived there for 10 years.
Natalie Casey brings real energy to the role of a hapless, quirky comedian Sherry. She comes across as free-spirited owing money to everyone.
Marion (Catrin Steward), in complete contrast is a straight-talking realist. She is more calculated and sensible about what she wants. Her aspirations of having children are not shared with her boyfriend Paul (Sam Frenchum), a keen music journalist.
Michael Marcus plays Howard from Glasgow, an earnest academic writing about the corruption of capitalism in Thatcher’s Britain.
They are all happy living together until one day when they receive a visit from their new landlord, a young confident property developer Scott (Ralph Davis) who offers them a substantial fee to vacate their home as he wishes to redevelop the whole building. Soon their talk of music and idealism gives way to talk of real estate.
At first the offer is very tempting for the four tenants, however, they quickly realise that if they renovate the property themselves they can hold out to get a better deal from the developer. After three years this huge capital gain comes at a cost of its own, a loss of friendship and their own values.
Set to the soundtrack of 1980s London and against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain, Valued Friends is a compelling and entertaining comedy drama.
Valued Friends runs at The Rose Theatre, Kingston, from September 20 – October 12.
