The Algarveans Experimental Theatre Group production of “Going Dutch” by John Godber sends us off on a voyage of discovery to Rotterdam for a Springsteen concert via the P&O ferry, Pride of Hull.
The concert is a pretext for Mark, a freelance composer, to push the boat out for his 50th birthday, with his wife Sally and their old college chum Gill. Sally has a well-honed line in amused cynicism and is well aware that her man has long lusted after Gill. For her part, Gill has a back catalogue of disastrous affairs and turns up for the trip with her latest in tow.
This is Karl, a recent ex-con found by her when she was doing a creative workshop in a prison. Karl is – as near as makes no difference – a psychopath. For a start he refuses to buy a red wine for Mark, on the grounds that “it’s a t***’s drink”, and from there he just gets more menacingly offensive with every utterance. His one redeeming feature, or so Gill thinks, lies in his trousers!
Melanie Winstanley, the director of the show, said: “In other hands, this would be the recipe for an orgy of low humour. But Godber peppers his dialogue with sharp one-liners and takes his characters through entirely credible metaphorical journeys which make you laugh, think and cry all at the same time.”
So go along and see how the journey ends at the Lagoa Auditorium on either November 27, 28 or 29 at 8pm. Tickets cost €10.
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