Theatre / AR Gurney
Review: The Cocktail Hour, Alma Tavern Theatre
AR Gurney’s The Cocktail Hour opened off Broadway in 1988 to great critical acclaim. Fast forward 30 years, and it’s now gracing the tiny stage at the Alma Tavern Theatre.
It’s the tale of a playwright John (David Cole) who comes home to seek his family’s permission to put on a play about their lives called – you guessed it – The Cocktail Hour. That’s mirrored in the play that the audience watches. And, in a further twist, in real life Gurney promised his folks that The Cocktail Hour wouldn’t go on show in his hometown for fear of offending them.
No wonder, for every aspect of family life comes in for scrutiny, beginning with the convincing Paul Simcox as his father Bradley, who is intent on keeping the family traditions (and stock portfolio) just as they have always been.
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His mother Ann, played for laughs by Janet Adams, starts to unravel after a few cocktails, and even sensible sister Nina (Rosie Closs) has a secret ambition that threatens to upset the status quo. Only the playwright himself remains opaque.
There’s plenty to make us laugh here – just a few of the jokes are dated, but mostly the one-liners work. While the first half could do with a little more pace in places, the dialogues in part two really drive the plot forward, and culminate with a poignant one-to-one between father and son.
For the price of a cocktail, a ticket to this production is excellent value entertainment from Bristol’s Tawdry Lace Theatre, returning to the Alma for a lucky third time.
The Cocktail Hour continues at the Alma Tavern Theatre until Saturday, Oct 7. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.almatavernandtheatre.co.uk/theatre/what-s-on
Read more: Review: Legally Blonde The Musical
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