Andy Munns
Chris Chibnall has written a funny, farcical play with plenty of depth and feeling.
One Last Push, directed by Gareth Machin, is having its world premiere at Salisbury Playhouse with a great cast and clever set.
First of all, it’s funny. Laugh out loud, funny! It’s silly but warm, farcical but with feeling, and the cast carries some clever jokes with great timing and reactions.
There is some straight-up slapstick and silliness, but the ending brought a tear to my eye and many others in the audience.
Set in the living room of their new flat, Mark (Sam Alexander) and Jen (Laura Main) are preparing to have their first baby, and the plan is a home birth.
Throw in four other cast members who weren’t expected to be there, and you have a recipe for disaster. That is what ensues, sort of.
They are joined by Jen’s mother, Eileen (Sherry Baines), who was expected to be there but has ideas above her station and a strong aversion to an 80s track by Dexys Midnight Runners.
Also making a nuisance of himself is Dave, Mark’s formerly estranged father, who has been ‘fixing’ the flat as he tries to rebuild his relationship with his son after leaving when he was just two years old.
Paul (David Partridge) is the upstairs neighbour and former flat owner who lacks social awareness.
Finally, they are joined by Alize (Valerie Antwi), who is Dave’s much younger, free-spirited girlfriend, who arrives ready for a party.
The play is everything I hoped for and more. It provided light relief whilst also reflecting the circumstances many will recognise from their life experiences.
The first half of the play is spent introducing us to the characters and sets us up for the second act perfectly as things start to go wrong in all sorts of ways.
You will also recognise personality traits in the characters, which have enough depth to make you care about them.
The farcical elements, whilst heightened, don’t feel out of place or ridiculous, with some beautifully predictable and others much more surprising.
Overall, it’s a hugely enjoyable, funny play that will have you laughing out loud and leave you with a warm feeling.
One Last Push runs until March 9th at Salisbury Playhouse; you can buy tickets here – https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push
