Billy Liar: Chesil Theatre, Winchester (From Daily Echo)

Billy Liar: Chesil Theatre, Winchester

2:33pm Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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Billy Fisher is a young Yorkshireman living at home with his parents and grandmother. He fights the boredom of his humdrum existence as an undertaker’s clerk by constant daydreaming and flights of fancy, a seamless mix of reality and fantasy to him, downright lying to his family and three girlfriends...

This was an excellent example of an ensemble production, with strong characterisations, good (mostly) consistent Northern accents and high energy levels from all, notably Steve Clark as Billy’s bullying father and Emma Nias as Billy’s ‘true love’, Liz. James Gaynor was wonderful as Billy: charming suitor, cheekily creative, reacting appropriately and yet perfectly still when required, before his anguish erupts palpably.

Despite a few opening night nerves and stumbles, and a slightly over-enthusiastic prompt, Ian Crowe’s fine direction ensured that this was a well-paced comic-drama, full of humour and pathos, enhanced by atmospheric and site-specific sound effects and well-designed domestic scenery.