BILLY LIAR. Semi-comic play by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. Directed by Lynn Moss. Set Design Zanodean Cassiem. Costumes Barrie Howard. Lighting Gary Fargher. Presented by Claremont Dramatic Society. At The Masque Theatre until 2 June.
SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews
Where does the fine line lie between possessing a vivid imagination, a gift of the gab and an inability to know the difference between fantasy and truth? That’s the puzzle authors Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall present in their two-act play Billy Liar.
Billy Fisher (Bryan Look) is a presentable 19 year-old working class North Country lad. He’s living at home while working as a clerk in Shadrock and Duxbury’s dismal undertakers office. There he shares space with sympathetic best friend, Arthur (Gertan Agenbach) who, unsuccessfully, attempts to stop Billy’s manipulation of people.
Glib tongue
Billy is the downtrodden offspring of his nagging mother Alice (Jacqui Bloomer – who needs to give her accent some attention), his “bloody” minded, abusive father Geoffrey (James Skilton), and gentle, softly spoken Grandma Florence (Jane Cohen). Not unexpectedly Billy’s dreary working conditions and dysfunctional family drive him into the land of make believe.
That’s the place where he fantasizes about becoming a highly-paid London scriptwriter for famous comedian Danny Boon – whom he hasn’t met.
Billy’s overworked imagination and glib tongue really mean no harm when, with only one engagement ring, he proposes to Barbara (Jaime Uranovsky) then to Rita (Jessica Still), while in love with strong minded Liz (Tash Futeran). The scene when Billy makes up excuses to pry his ring from pretty Barbara’s finger to give to Rita would be funny, except for the underlying hurt his actions cause both Barbara and snappy Rita. Alternatively, the scene where Billy’s honesty shines through when declaring his love to Liz provided poignant moments.
James Skilton lifts the show
Look fits Billy’s persona to a T. He’s a nice enough looking lad to actually have three beautiful girls in tow, he holds his North Country accent, and at no time exaggerates or underplays his role. As a character, authors Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall have crafted Billy to represent young people trapped by a lack of education and resources, who have no understanding how to upgrade their lives for the better.
By choosing Billy Liar at this time of protest action across South Africa director Lynn Moss shows her sensitivity towards unhappy youth. “Just Do It” is a popular logo on T-shirts. “Doing it” takes immeasurable resolve to break from the known to the unknown. Using Waterhouse and Hall’s script Moss demonstrates how difficult it is to do.
Once again Skilton’s gift to “lift” a performance came to the fore. His energy, personality and excellent timing drew laughs that gave Billy Liar a lightness the layered plot didn’t. To Skilton’s Geoffrey and Look’s Billy go the evening’s accolades. And to Zanodean Cassiem goes an award for his set design that allowed for movement both in and outside the Fisher’s pleasant home and picket-fenced garden.
What: Billy Liar
Who: Claremont Dramatic Society
Where: The Masque Theatre, Muizenberg
When: Until 2 June 2018
Book tickets: www.computicket.co.za, 0861 915 8000
WS
