REVIEW: THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO By Ian Hallard at Park Theatre 15 March – 15 April 2023

‘Wicked, vibrant humour’ ★★★ ½

It was in 2016 that Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard led a fine ensemble cast of ‘The Boys In the Band’, the groundbreaking play from the late 1960’s which very much changed the landscape of gay theatre. I recall being both profoundly moved and utterly charmed by the show when I saw it back then at the Park Theatre, and thus I was delighted to return to the same spot to see the same dynamic duo in action.

This time, however, Gatiss is in the director’s chair whilst Hallard is both starring and is the writer of ‘The Way Old Friends Do’, an Abba tune giving the name to what is, essentially, a love letter to the Swedish pop maestros. But, like ‘The Boys In The Band’ all those years ago, this is also a study of friendship, loyalty and feelings of shame which is an underplayed but interesting recurring theme.

Hallard plays Ian, a somewhat shy and quiet Abba lover who tells his nan - voiced by the great Miriam Margolyes - everything except the fact that he is bisexual. His reticence comes from not wanting to upset his steady but happy life which is then thrown into some confusion by old school friend Edward (a joyful James Bradshaw - sharp tongued and biting) whom he inadvertently and unexpectedly connects with on Grindr. Their relationship re-evolves into a charming but often combative middle-aged ‘to and fro’, all the while Edward mulls over the brokering of an open relationship with his (unseen) husband.

Before you know it, and in the first of one or two rather convoluted plot devices, the pair are donning wigs and lycra as the female halves of an Abba tribute band. They are joined by the bubbly but scatty Jodie (Rose Shalloo with a nice turn but in a role that verges on caricature) and, as a bearded Benny, Olivier winner Sara Crowe steals many a scene as dourly-bonkers Mrs Campbell whose deadpan delivery got big laughs every time she spoke.

With Donna Berlin in a strong but under-written role as Peter’s ‘lent-on’ friend Sally (there is a side piece on her and her wife undertaking IVF during the mayhem) the first half rattles along with smart lines, precise but winningly loose direction, and enough Abba references to keep any Super Trouper happy. The press night crowd lapped the whole thing up as Hallard’s writing allowed Bradshaw and Crowe in particular to shine with astute and outrageous references to everything from Brexit and the pandemic, to how we consume and use social media. Hallard has a lovely touch for comedy and, crucially, there is a melancholy explored around the idea of ‘shame’ - the shame of loving a silly little pop band (not my words or view by the way) and the shame of not truly being honest about who you are to those that matter most.

The revolving Abba-monikered set shimmers and allows the action to crack on but, alas, the second half can’t live up to the billing of the first. The introduction of the charming Andrew Horton as fellow Abba-obsessive Christian creates tension (and more) between the friends, but feels forced and, in turn, the play doesn’t know whether to go all out on comedy or have a more reflective, ‘grown up’ feel. Stuff happens, gets quickly resolved and the ‘faith’ that Hallard and Bradshaw’s characters have in each other is stretched but sustained to the glorious backdrop sound of the latest Abba release.

Still, this is a really fun show and a great night out. Crowe is an absolute hoot and, with Gatiss and Hallard in charge, the wicked, vibrant humour wins the day. Recommend that you ‘ring ring’ for a ticket ...

Photo credit: Darren Bell

PARK THEATRE, LONDON

Dates:                       Wednesday 15th March to Saturday, 15th April 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 3.00pm Thursday and Saturday)

Box Office:   020 7870 6876

Online               www.parktheatre.co.uk

TOUR DATES

Venue:                      Yvonne Arnaud Theatre GUILDFORD

Dates:                       Monday, 17th to Saturday, 22nd April 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.30pm Thursday and Saturday)

Box Office:   01483 44 00 00

Online               www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

Venue:                      Northcott Theatre EXETER

Dates:                       Monday, 24th to Saturday, 29th April 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday)

Box Office:   01392 72 63 63

Online               www.exeternorthcott.co.uk  

Venue:                      Theatre Royal BRIGHTON

Dates:                       Tuesday, 2nd to Saturday, 6th May 2023

Time:            7.45pm (Matinee – 2.30pm Thursday)

Box Office:   0333 009 6690

Online               www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/  

Venue:                      Everyman Theatre CHELTENHAM

Dates:                       Tuesday, 9th to Saturday, 13th May 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.00pm Thursday and Saturday)

Box Office:   01242 572 573

Online               www.everymantheatre.org.uk  

Venue:                      Playhouse Theatre OXFORD

Dates:                       Monday, 15th to Saturday, 20th May 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.30pm Thursday and Saturday)

Box Office:   01865 305305

Online               www.oxfordplayhouse.com  

Venue:                      The Lowry SALFORD         

Dates:                       Monday, 22nd May to Saturday 27th May 2023

Time:            8.00pm (Matinees – 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday)

Box Office:   0343 208 6000       

Online               www.thelowry.com  

Venue:                      Theatre Royal BATH

Dates:                       Tuesday, 30th May to Saturday, 3rd June 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.30pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday)

Box Office:   01225 448 844

Online               www.theatreroyal.org.uk   

Venue:                      Theatre Royal YORK         

Dates:                       Tuesday, 6th to Saturday, 10th June 2023

Time:            7.30pm (Matinees – 2.00pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday)

Box Office:   01904 623 568

Online               www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Reviewed by Paul Maidment