We’ve all met people on holiday that we’ve vowed will be life-long friends, exchanging email addresses followed by Christmas cards for years to come, but have any of them ever invited themselves to stay? That’s the premise of Steven Moffat’s comedy of manners The Unfriend, which enjoyed a successful run at Chichester Festival Theatre last year, and now transfers to London’s Criterion Theatre.
The title takes its name from the Facebook feature that allows you to ‘stop’ being friends with someone, in Peter and Debbie’s case, they now regret befriending brash American Elsa on their month long cruise. Back in Blighty and Elsa has invited herself to stay at their small suburban home (yes, they live at Number 9). But being an unwanted houseguest isn’t Elsa’s only problem; according to Google, she’s a suspected serial killer.
You would think it would be quite easy to just ask her to leave, but in the epitome of British politeness, Peter and Debbie just can’t seem to find the words to make it happen. Elsa’s stay also has some unexpected consequences, “she’s murder Poppins” screams Debbie, noticing that her husband is more relaxed, and their lethargic teenage children are no longer at each other’s throats.
Seemingly overnight, Elsa has improved life for everyone, there’s just the small concern she’s poisoning them all. Reece Shearsmith has the lion’s share of the good lines, hilariously playing the uptight husband, while the audience are left wanting more of Amanda Abbington’s Debbie, which is an under-utilised character.
Gabriel Howell as Alex, and Maddie Holliday as Rosie bring a streak of brilliance to The Unfriend, the characters are probably the best developed and the duo bounce off each other’s energy. But it’s Frances Barber as Elsa that steals the show. Draped in a Gucci scarf, Barber delivers each line with an innocence that’s brimming with malice.
Razor sharp direction from Mark Gatiss keeps this gentle comedy feeling pacey, while Robert Jones’ forced perspective set draws the eye to where all the action is happening. The script finds itself lacking in places, and while very funny on the whole, there are a few jokes that fail to land.
The Unfriend is a far-fetched comedy farce that showcases some incredible talent, on stage and off, it is one of those easy-going comedies that won’t fail to entertain, and might just make you think twice about who you befriend on your next vacation.
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