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Danny is a 'scuffer' - scruffy, pennyless, and workshy - bumbling along on his weekly Giro, but he's a kind-hearted lad, despite his abusive upbringing. Ultimately however, he is one of lifes spectators - standing back and watching as his simply unfolds around him (and most of the time he seems to be stood behind some big fat bloke blocking the view).
But now Danny's in trouble. His girlfriend, Amy, has left him and he's in debt to the local loan-shark and behind on his payments. Now he has until chucking-out time to come up with eight hundred quid or hard-nut Cathy, the loan-shark, is going to collect on his collateral - his legs!.
Danny turns to Amy, as he always does, to tell him what to do. Amy left him because she despairs that he will ever be able to take charge of his life, but, after a string of abusive former boyfriends Danny was kind and gentle with her and she still loves him. Amy's dad Jack, a former hard man who now suffers from trance-like episodes, has a soft spot for Danny too, even though his daughter has just revealed she is pregnant with Danny's baby (unbeknownst to Danny).
So the trio head to where the money is, the town centre, to split up and try to raise the cash in any way they can. Never far behind are Cathy, keen to ensure that Danny doesn't try to do a runner, and the psycho Cauldron, one of Amy's former boyfriends out for revenge on Danny for taking her away from him.
And so the drama unfolds, from Railway Station to Casino to Art Gallery, the desperate trio chase around Leeds in a quest for cash. The story becomes Danny's rite of passage, but will he ever survive to reach a safe harbour? Most importantly, will his next kiss come from Amy, or from Cathy's baseball bat?
Set entirely in the author's South Leeds stomping grounds this is a rambunctious aper comedy as our heroes chase from one location to another in their quest for cash. The set consists of one relatively simple backdrop that is cleverly and remarkably effectively transformed by filmed projections (often with a live element as when we are outside the 'Black Horse' pub and can see the goings on inside in a scene through the window).
The piece has a strong musical element as a background to the action, the Kaiser Chiefs "I Predict A Riot" being the predominant (and rather appropriate) anthem. The cast also treat us to a couple of live renditions, revealing some excellent singing voices in the process.
The play is essentially a five hander, although the five central characters are supplemented by a few lesser characters by the cast members doubling up along the way. The action is fast and furious, the comedy is mainly of the in your face unsubtle variety. There are scenes of actual as well as threatened or implied violence, and use of strong language, but in neither case is it gratuitous, being wholly in keeping with the story.
Richard Glaves as Danny, the 'scuffer' of the title, is on stage for a full twenty minutes before the story even begins - we enter the auditorium to find him sleeping on the sofa in his flat. He captured the spirit of the hapless Danny superbly well and displayed excellent comic timing as well as a fine singing voice (even when camping it up in the karaoke session). Hannah Storey as Amy was equally effective. Amy had to be a strong character to made up for Danny's shortfalls and Hannah carried this extremely well. She also demonstrated a fine singing voice. Lorraine Bruce's Cathy was a wonderfully droll and sardonic character and was involved in most of the finest comedy moments. A hard-nut with a heart, despite her obvious menace we could not help warming to her as the story progressed. William Ilkley played Jack as a truly down to earth character, non-judgemental, truly caring for his daughter. Finaly Dominic Gately was a truly menacing character as the psychopathic Cauldron, strutting around and lording it over the rest we truly wanted to see him getting his come-uppance.
A clever, roisterous comedy filled with real-life characters and many genuinely funny moments.