Theatre Review: Barking In Essex

On Thursday, 19th September, we went to see the matinee performance of Barking In Essex at the Wyndham Theatre, which stars famous names Lee Evans, Shelia Hancock and Keeley Hawes. This play has incredibly mixed reviews, with some saying how it's the worst play of the year, and others celebrating the wonderful humour which exuberates from it.

Barking In Essex is a dark, tragic comedy about the Packers, a hapless criminal family, who are obviously from Essex. It's the story of a family whom, having spent the proceeds from a robbery undertaken by notorious gangster and younger son Algie, face having to cover their tracks before he returns home from seven years in prison. This involves dead bodies and fleeing to a not-so exotic location for the second act, where they begin to hatch various plots against each other, and eventually reaching a loud and tragic ending.

First of all, if you're someone who cringes at swear words, then this really is not for you, as almost every line includes at least one 'c*nt' or 'f*ck'. It certainly is used far too liberally, and does get too much to handle. Of course, having such refined actors like Sheila Hancock shouting c-words, is quite a funny novelty, but one which is quickly warn.

Lee Evans plays Darnley Packer, who is predictably the unlucky, ill-fated but earnest character that he usually plays. However, not to take anything away from his performance, his acting is so brilliantly straight, and it's hard to believe that anyone else could have played the part.

Shelia Hancock plays his mother, Emmie, and it's very unusual to see her - an iconic 80-year-old lady - playing a character who wears trainers throughout and uses more swear words than your stereotypical sailor. Playing the wife of Darnley, Keeley Hawes of Ashes to Ashes fame, wears short dresses and a shop-load of make-up, in the role of Chrissie. Both playing characters different to what we've seen them play before, and both done an excellent job

As well as them, Montserrat Lombard plays Algie's posh fiancée, causing a glaring contrast, and Karl Johnson (the mumbling policeman from Hot Fuzz) who is also quite funny as a hitman called Rocco, who is as Italian as an English Breakfast.

This is a very intimate play, and because of that, it becomes easier to be invested in the characters, easy to follow and you feel like another member of the Packer family. And the set designs are marvellous and some of the best I've seen. The first being in the Packer's outlandish front room featuring a spiral staircase, florescent lights and room-tall bubble tubes. The second is a brilliant contrast, with it being a grotty flat.

It's certainly not as bad as the reviewers say; not by a long shot. It's very funny, with great characterisation, and by the end you really feel for the characters - particularly Darnley. Sheila Hancock fans may say that she is above saying such crude language, but for Lee Evans fans, this is perfect. He has brilliant comedy moments; but particularly his dancing to the well-known song: I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much).

If you get the chance to see it, then you so definitely should. Ignore the pompous reviews that award it just 2 stars.