Lockdown was a busy and productive period for playwright John Godber as he spent the time under restriction to review his past work and discover whether any of his theatrical pieces could be updated for the modern audience.
Originally written and performed in 1998 Perfect Pitch is one of the plays that was reviewed and a packed audience – it was literally a full house at the press night – revelled in this highly-entertaining newly-spun magic.
Matt (Frazer Hammill) and Rose (Annie Kirkman) are a professional couple who are in desperate need of a period of destressing. A newly-retired Headmaster and a Doctor in an NHS A+E Department both need to take time out from their hectic lives.
Rose is a health fanatic doing endless runs and has sworn off alcohol for the best part of a year while Matt appears the more laid back of the pair as he intends to sit back and spend the break enjoying a beer.
Unfortunately, a late decision to borrow the caravan belonging to Matt’s dad means that the site chosen has few facilities and there has been no opportunity to have a trial run. And that is where the plan to have a peaceful break soon begins to unravel.
Parking the van straight, the difficulties of erecting the ancillary equipment and discovering that the nearest source of fresh water is some distance away all nag away at Matt’s confidence. Fortunately, the sea view is beautiful and the pitch chosen is far from the madding crowd. It seems that an idyllic break is in the offing.
Until Grant (Tom Gallagher) and Steph (Laura Jennifer Banks) arrive on the scene and pitch their pop-up tent in close proximity to the caravan. With the thin walls doing little to disguise what the young couple are up to that is.
The new arrivals seem the exact opposites of the professional couple. Grant and Steph are hard-drinking and loud-mouthed and appear to have nothing in common with their opera-loving educated counterparts.
In order to appear friendly, Rose agrees to join Steph for a night out in Scarborough that includes a pizza and tickets to a male strip night. There are repercussions when the girls return and the audience is hugely entertained as the relations between the two couples develop. Despite all of the early signs, which pair is the more secure? It is a real pleasure to see the answer unfold.
Perfect Pitch is a typical Godber production as it makes delightful comedy through observations of normal life and develops the interaction in an exaggerated but highly plausible manner. We have all experienced the pitfalls of a touring caravan holiday – even if only in our imagination – and we have often had an initial perception of people that we meet that is changed through time and circumstance. This play lays out the joys and horrors of a campsite in splendid fashion.
Perfect Pitch is also a typical representative of the Yorkshire playwright’s work in that it is great fun to watch and had the audience frequently bursting out in laughter. There is evidence of good casting with Hammill excellent as the former Head who did not necessarily retire voluntarily and whose academic calm crumbles as events unfold, Kirkman does a very credible job as the outward prude who deep down is very frustrated and Banks is perfect as the younger girl who is the catalyst for all that goes wrong for Matt and Rose. Hats off too to Gallagher who shows excellent acting skills as the lary lad you definitely would not want your daughter to bring home but has hidden positives to his character.
With a neatly designed set and appropriately chosen musical interludes this was a delight to attend. My recommendation is to pitch up to this play. You will find it perfect.
Perfect Pitch has a running time of approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including interval and continues until November 2nd. For ticket information contact tickets@newvictheatre.org.uk or 01782 717954