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A heart-warming, glorious romp of a show that will leave you humming all the way home. Summary
Rating
Excellent
As a child I was obsessed with pigs. It may have been the fact that Babe came out when I was four years old. Or my love of the book Charlotte’s Web. But I adored them and had quite the collection of pink soft toys, including a giant Babe spotted in a Woolworths sale. This is a longwinded way of explaining how excited I was to see that Betty Blue Eyes was making a return to the stage. A musical. About a pig. Heaven.
Betty Blue Eyes had its West End debut 12 years ago, and it’s a delight to see it back on a London stage at Union Theatre. Based on Alan Bennett’s A Private Function, the show is set in post-war Yorkshire and tells the story of Gilbert and Joyce, who are not invited to a fancy do to celebrate the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. There are plans by some senior members of the town to slaughter a pig (Betty) for the occasion, a move that risks them all going to jail, as the animal is unlicenced. What follows is a thoroughly British romp filled with humour and heart throughout.
Joyce (Amelia Atherton) and Gilbert (Sam Kipling) are a true joy to watch. They’re instantly loveable and you find yourself invested in their story immediately. Not only is it their stage presence and chemistry that charms, but their voices are spectacular. Kipling’s performance of “The Kind of Man I Am” is one of the highlights of the show. One of the perks of a smaller venue is the chance to witness the power of an ensemble up close, and this group of performers sure do give a good show. Mr Metcalf (Kane Stone) deserves a particular shout out; his enthusiasm is hilariously infectious. And Josh Perry as Henry Allardyce somehow manages to make revelations about his true feelings for Betty heart-warming – rather than deeply disturbing, a real talent.
The loveable patchwork creation of Betty is an absolute treat. Georgia Boothman manages to bring her to life, and if Betty had come sniffing around my feet on the front row, I couldn’t have resisted a little scratch of her fabric clad head.
The music and songs are sure to cause a smile to erupt. Whether it be the frantically yet deliciously chaotic “Pig, no pig” or the rousing “Fair shares for all”. But there are also wonderfully tender moments such as “Lionheart”, in which a flashback to the horrors of an air raid evokes emotional depth not expected in such a show. It’s certainly a musical treat that leaves you humming the tunes on the way home.
The only cause for criticism comes because of a few mistakes with the lighting not quite hitting the right cast member at the right moment (this could be down to cast not being in position, but it happened several times) and the sound quality. No one is mic’d up which for the most part is fine. However, there are some songs where it is difficult to hear the lead above the sound of the ensemble’s footsteps or the band. During Joyce’s triumphant moment in “Nobody”, it was difficult to hear Atherton at times. This was a real shame as, with these issues sorted, this show has the potential to knock your socks off.
Putting aside some technical issues, it’s a real delight to see this show back once again. It will leave you beaming from its delightful silliness but with real affection for all the characters, even the somewhat sinister meat inspector. I won’t reveal what happens to Betty, whether she finds her way to freedom or to the table, but it’s safe to say I won’t be hitting a bacon butty for quite a while.
Adapted by Alan Bennett
Book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman
Music by George Stiles
Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Directed and produced by Sasha Regan
Musical direction by Aaron Clingham
Choreography by Kasper Cornish
Betty Blue Eyes plays at Union Theatre until 22 April. Further information and bookings can be found here.
