When Ned applies for the job of security man at a block of flats he thought he was in for a mundane time with time on his hands, honest work looking after the interests of the tenants. That was before he was interviewed by Kev and meets two of the elderly tenants.

This new play by Meredith Oakes takes place in the lobby of a London mansion, now converted to flats, but later transfers to one of the tenant’s sitting rooms. The play is seeking laughs and is a sequence of funny one liners that make the audience chuckle all the way through. Ned played by Rupert Holliday Evans, starts as the “no hoper”, who in the end becomes the one who everyone turns to for solutions, thereby gradually earning everyone’s respect. His interview with Ned (David Groves) is hilarious and gives everyone in the audience the chance to experience situations that they have been in themselves. In fact this play relates to situations that happen in everyday life. Well not quite for what happens at the end when Mr Kalashnikov (Eliot Giuralarocca) turns up to stay is anything but normal. The two old ladies maybe do not look as old as they should for seventy, but this does not detract from the play being enjoyable to watch. Lily (Lucinda Curtis), doting grandmother, and Daisy (Petra Markham), an alcoholic, give spirited performances. Everyone in this cast gave their all to produce fine performances. The direction by Annie Castledene was adequate and the set was just that.

For a night out at the theatre this play was fine, maybe it should have been a little longer in duration, but there was little more to say. Quirky. © BA

“Man for Hire” is in at the McCarthy in Scarborough from the 5th of February until the 16th of February, 2002.