THEATRE 
REVIEWS
Tender Dearly
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds
ENGLAND
Cheers?
The story line made you wonder what the writer's normal life is like. Over half of the dialogue was about the merits of beer and wine and its affect. The dialogue was punctuated with swear words which seemed to have no effect on what was going on within the story. Add to that a play that could quite easily have been shortened and made into a one act without any effect on the plot and you have Tender Dearly.
We had a bar owner who drank after the death of his wife and is comforted by two women who worked for him. A Serbian emigrant becomes a fixture and they contribute to get him sent back home, which in the end is not what he wants. Throw into this mix a student studying for a PhD who is attracted to one of the women, then you have the basis of the plot.
Liam McKenna looks for confront
The cast consists of Liam McKenna as the bar owner, Alison Pargeter as the focal point of the student's attention, Phoebe, Kate Gillespie as the other women Stephany, Michael Klesic as the Serb and Damian Kell as Euan the student. All give their all to help the story line along, but the words let the play down, however, all can be heard clearly.
Alex Chisholm directs, and attempts to get the cast in the right place at the right time, and Barney George, the designer, has problems with the layout of the theatre. Depending on where you sat determined how much of the play you saw, with action on the floor and in front of cross stage lighting supplied by David Bennion-Pedley.
This was the last of Northern Exposures plays by new writers and for that it has to be commended, but for entertainment value it lacked that something. With death on your shoulder through drinking too much alcohol it is doubtful whether this play would prolong your life with its message. © BA
“Tender Dearly” is in Leeds on the June until the June, 2007. Council car parking charge £1 from 5.30pm until 10pm. This is now a No Smoking theatre.
Is there an Air Conditioning certificate prominently displayed in your theatre foyer stating the date of manufacture of the appliance and when the system was last inspected and serviced - if not, complain to the theatre management.
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