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Amy Mitchell enjoys a warm, funny and hard-hitting performance
Image: L-R David Nellist, Jess Johnson
Love It If We Beat Them, written by Rob Ward and directed by Bex Bowsher kicks off the September season at Live Theatre with a warm and funny performance that also had hard-hitting moments and food for thought.
The characters were engaging from the off, the writing making us laugh frequently, with lines packed full of knowing references to football, politics and being Northern (proper Northern, not like Manchester or Leeds). The playout of the Newcastle football season including team results game by game and the political ‘battle’ in the run up to the election was interwoven brilliantly, with seamless changes of style – from football commentary to an intense political debate.
The staging was versatile, with a pub and pool table set up representing various settings without losing atmosphere or being jarring. The cast were fantastic – Jessica Johnson gives a typically strong and earthy performance as Jean, she’s an actress that I always enjoy watching on stage. She brings Jean to life as a character who doesn’t say a great deal, and whose slightly gruff exterior belies an inner pain and backbone of steel when it comes to those she cares about. David Nellist held the focus as Len – the central character who is a stereotypical left wing/socialist leaning local ‘man of the people’ – but he makes him seem human and real, even as he spouts angry rhetoric. This is mainly directed towards Victoria, his political rival for the local seat, brought up by New Labour as a candidate, and facing Len’s wrath as a consequence. Victoria, played engagingly by Eve Tucker comes across as sympathetic, despite being tough, and she gives as good as she gets in the scenes between herself and Len. Daniel Watson as Michael, Len’s protégé, is engaging, likeable and shares the story of the man on the street, torn between political agendas and the need to work and to have hope that things will change.
Despite being a piece very much about its time (late 1990’s) many of the themes felt very relevant still today. The crowd at Live was a great mix of ages and the play received a lively response, both in laughter and applause – with a standing ovation at the end of the evening. It’s on until 28 September and is a great night at the theatre – so get there before the final whistle.
Love It If We Beat Them is at Live Theatre, Newcastle until Saturday 28th September.
