Set on an autumn Saturday in 1959, Billy Liar is a funny insight into the mind of a teen-aged boy and his relationships with his family, his friends and the girls in his life. The Fisher family have risen from the working to the lower Middle-class and become what Alice would describe as "respectable".
Billy is a somewhat spoilt and lonely only child and has thus far failed to live up to the expectations of his parents. They want him to join the family haulage firm, while he has dreams of a career in show-business. His love life sees him involved with a middle class beatnik who goes in and out of his life; a respectable girl who dreams of a cottage in Devon and the sort of traditional setting seen in "Woman's Weekly"; and a coffee bar waitress who is on the make.
His job at the undertakers is under threat, his Grandma is taken ill, the two girls to whom he is presently engaged seem about to meet, and he has a chance to escape. Meanwhile his parents are also discovering that their Billy is a bit of a Liar. Welcome to life in Scunthorpe, 1959.
Billy is a somewhat spoilt and lonely only child and has thus far failed to live up to the expectations of his parents. They want him to join the family haulage firm, while he has dreams of a career in show-business. His love life sees him involved with a middle class beatnik who goes in and out of his life; a respectable girl who dreams of a cottage in Devon and the sort of traditional setting seen in "Woman's Weekly"; and a coffee bar waitress who is on the make.
His job at the undertakers is under threat, his Grandma is taken ill, the two girls to whom he is presently engaged seem about to meet, and he has a chance to escape. Meanwhile his parents are also discovering that their Billy is a bit of a Liar. Welcome to life in Scunthorpe, 1959.
The Cast
Florence Boothroyd - Margaret Mould
Geoffrey Fisher - David Wagg
Alice Fisher - Claire Cooper
Billy Fisher - Matthew Austin
Arthur Crabtree - Matt Kerslake
Barbara - Debbie Hiles
Rita - Katherine Levy
Liz - Megan Abbott
The Crew
Director - Allan Lord
Stage Manager - Laura Norman
Backstage - Richard Bennett
Rehearsal Prompt - Pippa Lacey
Costumes - Judy Parsons
Make-up - Jenny Lewis
Sound and Lighting - Barry Ayres
Staging - Barry Ayres, Jimmy Harwood, Jay Lord and Sam Lord
Props - Margaret Mould and Eileen Cook
Publicity - Amy Kent
Programme - Megan Abbott
Front of House - Cyril Pike
Box Office - Kate and Chip Carpenter
Florence Boothroyd - Margaret Mould
Geoffrey Fisher - David Wagg
Alice Fisher - Claire Cooper
Billy Fisher - Matthew Austin
Arthur Crabtree - Matt Kerslake
Barbara - Debbie Hiles
Rita - Katherine Levy
Liz - Megan Abbott
The Crew
Director - Allan Lord
Stage Manager - Laura Norman
Backstage - Richard Bennett
Rehearsal Prompt - Pippa Lacey
Costumes - Judy Parsons
Make-up - Jenny Lewis
Sound and Lighting - Barry Ayres
Staging - Barry Ayres, Jimmy Harwood, Jay Lord and Sam Lord
Props - Margaret Mould and Eileen Cook
Publicity - Amy Kent
Programme - Megan Abbott
Front of House - Cyril Pike
Box Office - Kate and Chip Carpenter
NODA Review
This bitter sweet comedy, brilliantly delivered by the Watlington cast, is set in 1959 and I guess Billy and his contemporaries were the last generation before the “Baby Boomer” generation. It is of course a time of great social change in attitudes and I can’t help thinking the youth of today would find it difficult to fully understand the social constraints on Billy’s generation. To some extent, this change in attitudes has lead to a loss in context of the drama and comedy of this play. How fortunate therefore were Watlington to have a director with firsthand knowledge of the era and the angst Billy is going through (albeit not with quite the same caviller manner so he tells us) and such a talented cast to bring it to life.
Performed on another excellent set, full use was made of the extended performance area. Good pace and projection from all ensured this production moved effortlessly through Billy’s real and imaginary life. If I have any criticism, it would be that the two lads, Billy and Arthur were played by rather “mature” teenagers (sorry guys), but that said, performances from all were most believable. Great to see two talented young ladies, Katharine Levy (Rita) and Megan Abbott (Liz) take on minor roles to support the society, and nice to see Debbie Hiles (Barbara) take on a lead role for Watlington. All three captured the sprit of their respective characters very well and quite frankly all of them were too good for Billy Fisher. The same can be said of the character Arthur, a sound friend, soundly played by Matthew Kerslake.
The parental pairing of David Wagg (Geoffrey) and Claire Cooper (Alice) worked well together and exploited the different outlooks on life, especially considering the two-way generation gaps. In one instance, between them as parents to Billy, in the other as daughter and son-in-law to Florence.
Another tour de force performance from Matthew Austin in the lead role of Billy Fisher. This central character moved me through various feelings towards Billy; I felt I shared in his disillusionment of life, his parent’s disappointment in him, the deceit suffered by his girlfriends and a general disgust at his attitude. Sorry to take the moral high ground here, but it is the only way I can think to convey how good the performance was. To cap it all, the feeling of despair, in that Billy is incapable of being true even to himself and his final entrance brings into sharp contrast how sad and lonely he really is.
Finally, this play should come with a health warning to all actors, amidst all your hard work and effort there will always be a scene stealer. Margaret Mould was nothing short of brilliant in the role of Florence, every gesture or subtle mumble bringing forth rounds of laughter. The good thing about this performance was that it was scene stealing without being OTT. All in all, a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment in the company of Watlington Players.
Jim Farr
12th December 2010
Performed on another excellent set, full use was made of the extended performance area. Good pace and projection from all ensured this production moved effortlessly through Billy’s real and imaginary life. If I have any criticism, it would be that the two lads, Billy and Arthur were played by rather “mature” teenagers (sorry guys), but that said, performances from all were most believable. Great to see two talented young ladies, Katharine Levy (Rita) and Megan Abbott (Liz) take on minor roles to support the society, and nice to see Debbie Hiles (Barbara) take on a lead role for Watlington. All three captured the sprit of their respective characters very well and quite frankly all of them were too good for Billy Fisher. The same can be said of the character Arthur, a sound friend, soundly played by Matthew Kerslake.
The parental pairing of David Wagg (Geoffrey) and Claire Cooper (Alice) worked well together and exploited the different outlooks on life, especially considering the two-way generation gaps. In one instance, between them as parents to Billy, in the other as daughter and son-in-law to Florence.
Another tour de force performance from Matthew Austin in the lead role of Billy Fisher. This central character moved me through various feelings towards Billy; I felt I shared in his disillusionment of life, his parent’s disappointment in him, the deceit suffered by his girlfriends and a general disgust at his attitude. Sorry to take the moral high ground here, but it is the only way I can think to convey how good the performance was. To cap it all, the feeling of despair, in that Billy is incapable of being true even to himself and his final entrance brings into sharp contrast how sad and lonely he really is.
Finally, this play should come with a health warning to all actors, amidst all your hard work and effort there will always be a scene stealer. Margaret Mould was nothing short of brilliant in the role of Florence, every gesture or subtle mumble bringing forth rounds of laughter. The good thing about this performance was that it was scene stealing without being OTT. All in all, a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment in the company of Watlington Players.
Jim Farr
12th December 2010
Lynn News Review
Comedy came to Watlington Village Hall with the village player’s latest production, Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall’s stand-the-test-of-time work, Billy Liar.
The story, set in 1959, when it was written, is about a teenager Billy Fisher, the only son of fearsome dad Geoffrey Fisher (David Wagg) and slightly nicer mum Alice Fisher (Claire Cooper) and who works for an undertaker but dreams of stardom. The classic three-act structure employed in this play, including the customary dip at the end of act two, is a sign of solid writing. The comedy flows, which should make staging it for any company a joy.
Watlington Players did not do a bad job, and with a set which remained constant throughout, the focus was on the action at all times.
Matthew Austin, fresh on the heels of Hamlet, played Billy, who, apart from his fantasies, is a legend among his friends for thronging three women (unsuccessfully) along at the same time.
At his heart, Billy is a sad, even tragic, character – he longs to escape, but hasn’t the courage, even when a route out is given to him on a plate. There was good support from Wagg and Cooper, and also Margaret Mould as gran, Florence Boothroyd.
Director Allan Lord did a competent job, clearly winning the trust of the leads in each of their performances. Shining light was Debbie Hiles as Barbara in her first main role on stage with the players. Her performance was beautifully understated – I just hope she enjoyed all the oranges she had to chomp through.
7th November 2010
The story, set in 1959, when it was written, is about a teenager Billy Fisher, the only son of fearsome dad Geoffrey Fisher (David Wagg) and slightly nicer mum Alice Fisher (Claire Cooper) and who works for an undertaker but dreams of stardom. The classic three-act structure employed in this play, including the customary dip at the end of act two, is a sign of solid writing. The comedy flows, which should make staging it for any company a joy.
Watlington Players did not do a bad job, and with a set which remained constant throughout, the focus was on the action at all times.
Matthew Austin, fresh on the heels of Hamlet, played Billy, who, apart from his fantasies, is a legend among his friends for thronging three women (unsuccessfully) along at the same time.
At his heart, Billy is a sad, even tragic, character – he longs to escape, but hasn’t the courage, even when a route out is given to him on a plate. There was good support from Wagg and Cooper, and also Margaret Mould as gran, Florence Boothroyd.
Director Allan Lord did a competent job, clearly winning the trust of the leads in each of their performances. Shining light was Debbie Hiles as Barbara in her first main role on stage with the players. Her performance was beautifully understated – I just hope she enjoyed all the oranges she had to chomp through.
7th November 2010