"Village Idiot" by Samson Hawkins.

Nottingham Playhouse.

They said that "Book Of Mormon" was a play that would shock. well, meet "Village Idiot".

Townies have decided they’re building a new high-speed railway (HS2). The only problem is, it’s going right through Barbara Honeybone’s house, and she's having none of it. Barbara’s grandson Peter works for the townies and it’s his job to convince the village that having a two-tonne bullet hurtling through the cabbage patches will actually be for the best.

Then there’s Harry, Barbara’s younger grandson, he's not that bothered about trains; he’s only got eyes for Debbie Mahoney. But the only thing Barbara hates more than townies is the Mahoneys.

This is Syresham, South Northamptonshire. It’s not the Cotswolds, but it does have "Syresham’s Got Talent", the main event of the village fair. There’ll be songs, dancing, magic, drag, and Kevin’s doing a meat raffle (vegetarian option: two tins of Strongbow).

Mark Benton plays Kevin, like everyone else, he's a potty mouth. With his share of the money for his home, he's going to Thailand to marry Sue. He has a son, Liam, and a daughter, Debbie, who both manage to surprise him in their own way. Mark is one of those actors who has such a rich CV of work that when you see him on stage, he looks so natural in whatever role he takes on. This is no different. One thing that did make me sit up though was that he played rock guitar on stage, something I didn't know about Mark. "School Of Rock" take note if you need a leading man who can rock out on an axe!

Harry is played by Maximillian Fairley. Maximillian is a wonderful comedy actor, and understands comedy and timing, which especially shows with his scenes at the start with Peter and Barbara. There's a lovely connection with his on stage girlfriend Debbie. Like all the characters in this play, there's a believable connection between all of them. Thank goodness there are theatre groups like Ramps On The Moon who can introduce us to actors like Maximillian.

Phillip Labey plays Peter. Peter is openly gay, and what I think is good about the writing for Peter is that he is not portrayed as a camp, limp-wristed character. He is shown as any normal bloke with a job that he has to do, but doesn't get any joy from doing his job. He has friends, has banter with Harry and teases him about his relationship with Debbie, and there are reveals about Peter as the play progresses which draw, not only gasps form the audience but cheers as well. But I may never look at Cher in quire the same way after tonight!

Liam is played by Joseph Langdon, one of Peter's oldest friends. The school friends are reunited when Peter travels up North to oversee the HS2 project. During the play, like the layers of an onion, Liam's past is revealed, layer by layer. Loved the section where Joseph gets to perform a bit of grime rap - I think I've correctly identified the music genre - and what adds to the comedy is that the rest of the cast make up Liam's crew, posse, backing band, whatever the current term for the collection of a grime artists group who vocalise behind the main man.

Eileen Nicholas plays Barbara. And how I love Barbara. She reminded me of someone I know. Not only does it make me smile, but it also sounds so shocking when you hear an elderly person use such language as Barbara does. Barbara's passion at not wanting to give up her home, for any sum of money made you want to give a virtual punch in the air. Her anger at her Grandson for forcing her into a corner regarding this motion is something that you have to side with, so no wonder Barbara's language was not so much blue, but positively purple. Barbara also gets to perform a musical number with a brilliantly funny parody of "Don't Fence Me In".

Faye Wiggan plays Debbie, and here's another character I loved. Although the women characters are in the minority, both shone bright for their tenacity. Faye's disability in no way stands in her way on stage, and she delivers to us a sexy, cheeky, powerful young woman in Debbie. A woman who knows what she wants, and who she wants, and is not backwards at coming forwards in what she wants from Harry. 

Directed by Nadia Fall. She presented six very individual characters who I am sure everyone could identify in either themselves, or in someone they know. Pacy, funny, sad in places and, in my opinion the story was powerful enough to put all of the language, that some people felt too strong, into the shade. The whole show was presented in a very natural feel and tongue, which was incredibly refreshing and one that I did not find shocking.

The set and costumes are designed by Lily Arnold. The set drew forth a three letter word from me when the curtain went up "W" "O" "W". The woodland scene was idyllic and by the final scene with the lighting was magical. The costumes, including the ones for the "show within the show" were apt, but the real beauty came near the end with the woodland creatures costumes. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Lighting Design by Richard Howell, which really shone bright for me with the end woodland scene.

The composer and Sound Designer is Max Pappenheim. A subtle soundscape which drifted in and out of your ears.

Ramps On The Moon is the pioneering initiative committed to putting deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work. This marks their first new and original play staged by Ramps On the Moon. Their project is to normalise and celebrate the presence of deaf and disabled people on and off stage. And celebrate is just the word with the actors involved in "Village Idiot".

"Village Idiot" uses outrageous comedy to tell the story. It will shock and offend some people. Some people will be offended by the very strong language. The characters make jokes about class, race, sexuality, sex, gender identity, trans people and disability. It's nothing that anybody has not heard as they walk round the streets of Nottingham. It's a reflection on the world we live in circa 2023, unfortunately. With this in mind I was not shocked. I was not offended. I took the jokes as part of the well written and observed script, and if the guffaws of laughter and the standing ovation were to be understood, the audience thought the same way as I did. Maybe mine, and this audience's sense of humour, is broad enough and advanced enough not to be offended or shocked, and found the naturalistic humour on a par with any bar room on a Friday or Saturday night.

"Village Idiot" is at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 25 March, but stay away if you're easily shocked or offended by REALLY bad language.... or you have no sense of humour!