Bouncers, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. (2015).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Paul Broughton, Danny O’ Brien, Andrew Schofield, Michael Starke.

The night is young, the perfume is sprayed with liberal application, the smell of the aftershave overpowers the testosterone emanating from the raw majesty that is the Friday night club and disco and the D.J., who might not save your life on the night but who will certainly play a few good numbers to get the girls up and dancing, is full of ready innuendo. If your names are not down though and you’re not ready to party with the best doormen around then the Bouncers, on behalf of the management, reserve the right to make you laugh long into the night.

For the third year running the hugely popular John Godber play, Bouncers, has the Royal Court audiences rolling in the aisles as local door staff Lucky Eric, Les, Ralph and Judd philosophise about the world, women, men, punks and blue movies as they stop a range of reprobates and undesirables from gaining entry into the club and allowing those out to party the freedom to get squiffy and have a slow dance with the least attractive person left in the building at 1.45am.

The reason this play keeps audiences coming back for more is to be seen in abundance, it resonates with humanity, it buzzes with the anticipation and steam of the weekend ego out in search of a pint, to pull and to forget the issues, the troubles and plights of the working week warrior who needs the release from their lives; it is the antidote to feeling the disappointment we all feel and the chance to be someone different on the dance floor.

With Andrew Schofield joining the cast, the dynamic shifts once more and the gelling of four of the most popular actors in Liverpool is one that really captures the spirit of the play. Stepping into the shoes of the wonderful Louis Emerick and before him Mark Womack, is no easy task, but Mr. Schofield’s portrayal of bouncer Ralph, the young punk with attitude and sexy Susie, the good time girl out to impress was a nirvana always waiting to happen.

It is though a four piece play delivering a five star performance and without the talented Paul Broughton, Danny O’ Brien and the effervescent Michael Starke reprising their seamless and joyous roles, the production would certainly suffer. Thankfully Bouncers is a play which allows so much freedom under the excellent Bob Eaton’s directing and one that wears the tux, the raised eyebrow and the mean frown of superbly placed comedy with absolute pride.

A show that just gives so much to the audience each and every time it comes to the Royal Court.

Ian D. Hall