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(Not the musical of the same name)
Al and Bet, a Yorkshire couple, lead dull, uninteresting lives made worse by Al's unemployment causing money worries and constant squabbles over their limited options for passing time. Al squanders his excess spare time hiding in his painting (badly), while Bet dreams of a better life and is addicted to entering magazine competitions. Al is dismissive of Bet's obsession, but one day, to his amazement, a notification arrives that Bet has won a romantic weekend for two in Paris! Al at first is reluctant to go, but soon with bags packed they find themselves safely aboard the North Sea ferry beginning their journey. Al enthusiastically takes advantage of the all-you-can-eat buffet, and Bet dances away the night at the on-board disco.
Then we are in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysses and Notre Dame are all on their itinerary, involving a lot of walking as Al stubbornly refuses to use the Metro. This leads to a number of comic situations, such as the (predictable) mix-up ordering food at a restaurant as Bet tries out her limited phrase book French, Al's utter confusion with French toilet furnishings, and their unknowning patronage of a transvestite revue.
As the trip unfolds we are given a glimpse of the tender side of this somewhat dysfunctional relationship as we learn what makes each of the two characters tick as the trip brings the pair closer together.
This two handed play approaches the exploration of the two characters through a series of feisty exchanges, droll humour and subtle put-downs that are both human and entirely convincing. We all know an Al and Bet, only the names may be different. The sets are minimalist, two straight backed chairs remain on stage throughout being used in various situations and, apart from a small partition with door representing the back wall of their home/ferry cabin are essentially all there is.
The first act was a little slow with few memorable moments but the action, and the humour, picked up considerably in the second after the couple's arrival in Paris. Here, writer John Godber makes the most of the archetypal working class Brits abroad. Although the couple are at odd throughout most of the action, the play nevertheless brings out a strong sense of affection between them - that they would much rather endure each others little annoyances than be apart. But behind the sentimentality, there is also a sense of melancholy and injustice, such as Al's mixed initial reaction to the trip because of his sense of shame that he could not afford to take Bet on such a trip on his own resources. But he gradually warms to the trip, which leads to his realisation of just how much he needs Bet, and makes the couple stronger for it.
The husband and wife team of Robert Rawles, Al, and Samantha George, Bet, bring a tremendous depth and real empathy to their characters, creating a real sense of togetherness that could perhaps only come from a couple married in real life. Robert, the vexed postman in TV's "Keeping up Appearances", has a great talent for subtle visual comedy, whilst Samantha was faultless as the bored housewife dreaming of more.
This is not by any means the funniest or most innovative of John Godber's creations. But in spite of the predictability, and thanks largely to the strength of the performances, it utimately works rather well.