Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss teaming up always results in brilliance – think Doctor Who and Sherlock. Adding Lee Mack into the mix should spawn nothing less than perfection, and that’s exactly what The Unfriend at Wyndham’s Theatre is.
The premise is admirably close to an episode of Lee Mack’s BBC show, Not Going Out. In fact, the whole play feels like an extended, funnier version of that already funny sitcom.
The difference is while Not Going Out is only available to laugh at on iPlayer, The Unfriend runs at Wyndham’s Theatre. Not only is it a beautifully ornate building with a reasonable bar (and really nice popcorn), but it also has super-plush comfy seats and brilliant views of the stage no matter how much you’re willing to pay.
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The Unfriend starts off with married couple Peter and Debbie meeting a slightly unhinged Trump-supporting woman named Elsa on a cruise. They exchange details and expect never to hear from her again, despite her insistence that they will.
But when Elsa plans a trip to London, they decide to do some background research on the woman coming to their home. It turns out Elsa is not only an anti-vaxxer, a Trump supporter, and all-round cuckoo… she also might be a murderer.
Watching Peter and Debbie navigate that possibility while fighting British compulsive politeness made me and the rest of the audience continuously laugh out loud for the entire two-hour runtime. Sarah Alexander made perfect sense as the wife, and her portrayal of increasing hysteria outdid Sally Bretton’s on Not Going Out.
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Lee Mack’s comedic timing lends itself perfectly to the stage, but his physical comedy really got the chance to shine in person. He’s not only funny, he portrays the ‘hopeless and unbearably husband’ role so well I am convinced he is exactly like that in real life.
Frances Barber earned several snort laughs and cackles from the crowd as she swanned around as Elsa. The thick accent and affectations she employed made her embody the character in the larger-than-life way needed to keep a simple play like The Unfriend entertaining.
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The supporting characters are deserving of just as much praise, with Peter and Debbie’s on-stage kids, Rosie and Alex, making the family believable. Not to mention the neighbour and the policeman… but I’ll keep their brilliance a secret.
Emerging from the theatre after the final twist, I couldn’t stop smiling and recounting moments we’d just witnessed. The Unfriend isn’t Shakespeare, nor is it particularly deep and meaningful. It’s simply laugh-out-loud delightful, and sometimes that’s all you need.
You can book tickets for The Unfriend at Wyndham’s Theatre from TodayTix, London Theatre Direct, Love Theatre, Theatre Tickets Direct, and Last Minute. The Unfriend runs at Wyndham’s Theatre until March 9.
