"Home I'm Darling" by Laura Wade.

Bonington Players.

Bonington Theatre, Arnold.

Here's another play that I'd not heard of until Bonington Players advertised that they were performing it, so up until this production it had remained a hidden gem. This is the first time this play has been performed on a Nottingham stage.

We are transported back to the 1950’s, as the play starts in full “Mad Men” style. Judy is in her fifties style dress, high heels and coiffured hair preparing breakfast for her husband Johnny. On the immaculately clean surface(s), their marriage seems perfect – they themselves are “disgracefully happy” they announce to each other.  It is clear from the start that this kitchen sink drama, and the domestic goddess image Judy works hard to maintain, that we are going to witness some kind of deterioration of this idyllic oasis and we watch in anticipation as things slowly begin to unravel by the end of the first act.

Act two comes as a real surprise as we start in a flashback scene and then gradually gets darker. But is there anything that Judy can do to dig herself out of the situation that she has created for Johnny and herself?

There are many questions that arise about gender stereotyping, identity, tradition, feminism, the imbalance of power and relationships.  In the end though, the play is still about love and marriage and how to work through all the hard times and find a way to stay happily together, and maybe a little fantasy in a marriage isn't always a bad, or good thing, depending on how you view the term "fantasy".

Anna Hodkin plays Judy. and while we start off in a sickeningly saccharine sweet situation, Anna also shows the dark underbelly of Judy's character which became a real eye opening second act. 

Alex Brimelow plays Johnny. Like Anna he starts off in a completely different mindset to the one we see in Act Two. the end of the play though sees both characters in a more palatable relationship. When Johnny snaps though, Alex forces us to sit up and take notice of his character. Anna and Alex show great flexibility in their characterisation of this complex couple.

Gennie Price plays Fran, best friend of Judy's along with her husband Marcus, played by Tom Spencer. The two couples frequent "Jivefest" annually but this year Fran and Marcus have decided to head off on their own holiday, but something happens that is the catalyst of the darker mood in the second act. 

Zoe Lander plays Sylvia, Fran's mother, who is not a fan of Judy's lifestyle choices. When Judy asks her for help it's like Judy being a match and Sylvia being the short touch paper, and the fallout explosion is another sit up and take note moment.

Abi Hemmings plays Johnny's new boss, Alex. It's partly down to Alex as to whether Johnny gets the promotion that he is after, so he invites Alex around to meet Judy. A promotion means a wage rise, but the meet and greet with Judy does not go quite as Johnny had planned. Cue the unravelling.......

Co Directed by Charlotte Hukin and Eddie Januszczyk. The play lasts about two and a half hours and, for me, the success of a well directed production is if that time seems to be  less than the advised time. This show flew by. The first act being great fun with bright and bouncy direction. The second act being the epitome of dark comedy. 

The scene changes are combined with Gennie, Tom, Zoe and Abi dancing to 1950's hits while re arranging various bits of the scenery and props, continuing the lighter side of the story, and creating that 1950's atmosphere. The choreography is thanks to Jenny Chatten.

Sound operation is by David Goatham, and the Smartphone sound effects were very well timed to create realism. The soundtrack songs were also perfectly segued into the production to keep the pace going.

Lighting operation is by Peter Hodgkinson.

Bonington Players always tick the props box for me, and this play is no different with their variety of props for the production. Glynis Hunt, Jeff Casterton and Laura Harding sourced the props; everything from an authentic looking record player of the period, fridge, cooker, kitchen units etc.

And there's actual food and drink as well. I really frown on "invisible" food and drink in productions but these poor actors have to deliver lines while eating the most delicious looking chocolate cake, drink tea or eat boiled eggs and toast with marmalade. Don't see this play on an empty stomach!

The set design is split into two, the kitchen area and the front room, complete with fifties style drinking cabinet/bar, and dressed by Linda Whitehurst and Teresa Smith. 

I have just one small gripe. The invisible door from the front room to the kitchen which the actors pretended to open and close to enter or exit the kitchen. I did note that a few times the door was not opened, or maybe not closed, before or after the entrance/exit into the kitchen. If that was me, I'd have just not had the door and would have just had the actors moving from one room to the next without having to remember to open/close a door we couldn't see. I am sure the open plan layout was around in the 1950's.

The costumes were gorgeous, especially Fran's bright red with white polka dot dress. There were several costume changes, especially for Judy, each one as lovely as the previous.

I stated at the start that this play is a gem, and it really is. There are places where the phrase "I wasn't expecting that" popped into my mind as well. There's also a section that makes you feel quite uncomfortable, but there are several parts that will leave you pleasantly surprised at just how good this story is, and why you've not seen this play previously.

Another thing I really enjoyed was seeing a selection of 1950's advertisements that would have been posted in the newspapers of the day, screened upon the curtains.

"Home I'm Darling" is at Bonington Theatre in Arnold until Saturday 27 April.