“April In Paris” by John Godber

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Having read the play version of "April in Paris", I already knew what a clever and funny play this was. Seeing the play script spring to life with the help of two very talented actors was pure magic.

Not only is the play funny, it is also very touching at times as the pair often tear strips off of each other, but we discover by the end that these two characters are well matched, they love each other, and they finally find a common goal in life.

Bet and Al lead a quiet, humdrum life in their small Yorkshire home until Bet wins a 'Romantic Breaks' competition in Bella magazine. Bet has dreams. She has flights of fancy, all fuelled by her love of magazine competitions with holidays as prizes. Finally, after years of Bella, Chat and Woman’s Own, her luck changes; she wins a night away for two to Paris in April, via a luxury trip on P&O Ferries, out of Hull. The mini break represents their first experience abroad and has profound effects on the way they look at the world around them when they return home. They experience French cuisine, getting to grips with ordering meals in French and the humorous results of said meal, especially for Al.

Al's insecurity of travelling on the Metro culminates in an hilarious scene where he fends off would-be muggers in an almost stereo typical depiction of the Brit alpha male abroad.

Bet's longing for culture and the finer things in life are in direct opposition with her partying on the ferry travelling over with their evening entertainment programme.

Joe Pasquale plays Al, recently made unemployed, unadventurous in life but with a penchant for painting as a hobby. To start with Al is a bit of a damp squib, "pooh poohing" all of Bet's hopes of just going for a night out with her sister and brother-in-law to an Abba tribute night, never mind travelling to a foreign country and being on a boat!

Sarah Earnshaw plays Bet, long suffering, admitting later on that she had actually had thoughts of physically smothering Al with a pillow, her marriage was such a let-down to her. Bet has a great sense of fun, as depicted in the "disco" scene.

One thing I love about Godber is his ability to write characters who are "normal". He draws comedy from ennui within relationships. he looks at everyday people and writes what we all, at some time or another experience within this thing called "life". This is what make his plays so instantly relatable.

Sarah and Joe propel two seats around over the stage to depict different scenes, from their living room to a French cafe and the Ferry disco hall. The sound scape helping even more to take you to the various places, like the deck of the ferry, on top of the Eiffel Tower and the jazzy streets of the seedier locations!

Towards the end of the play there is a wonderful scene where Al is doing one of his paintings where he says that he is painting what he sees and is painting the most beautiful woman. This seems to resemble a potato head portrait but something very special then evolves, which I won't tell as it has to be seen to be believed but ends up rather beautiful, and all performed live in front of your very eyes.

At just seventy minutes long, without interval, this show speeds by, making you wish for more.

“April In Paris” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal only until Saturday 19 June 2021, so if you want to see some clever writing performed by two excellent character actors, then this is the show for you. Godber, Pasquale and Earnshaw at their very best.