Bouncers @ The Leicester Square Theatre

John Godber’s Bouncers has once again spawned in the depths of London, taking up residence in the basement of The Leicester Square Theatre. Some would say London is the best place to appreciate such a play and this seems appropriate considering it tells us the tales of the varied characters that inhabit within nights out on the town. Naturally this involves drunken louts, arguing women, perverted DJs, but most of all, it involves the Bouncers. The heroes, or if you will, the anti-heroes of the play. Four thuggish men who guard the gateway in a world of sex, drink and general debauchery.

And so it begins. It’s difficult not to pay attention as Prokofiev’s ‘Montagues and Capulets’ fills the room and four men take to the stage, dressed in tuxedos, one lead on as if he were an animal by a noose around his neck. Some would read into this in some critical way, claiming it to be an observation of something… And maybe Godber intended it to be. But to be honest it sets the tone of the play.

Bouncers plays off of stereotypes to get laughs, but don’t get me wrong, this is done very well. Newby bouncer Judd is a balance of innocence, stupidity and hormones and his depiction by actor Simon Higgins is spot-on. Luke Stevenson plays the sex and violence crazed Les and director and producer Anthony Law plays the experienced Ralph. Yet it’s ‘Lucky’ Eric who steals the show and our hearts. Played perfectly by David Bauckham, Eric is a man who is tired of his job and the people he encounters. Constantly ripped by his colleagues about his cheating wife, he regularly takes centre stage for ‘Lucky’ Eric’s speeches. Speeches about the things he’s seen during his work: girls at the mercy of men and the horrors alcohol induces. In contrast to the rest of the play it’s touching and thought provoking and you’re left with the hope that fatherly Eric will follow through with his musings about leaving this job. Somehow it’s clear he never will.

Yet the genius of this play comes from the versatility of the cast of four. Each takes on three main personalities (with a couple of others thrown in occasionally for good measure). Obviously the bouncers. Then a group of alcohol fuelled young lads. As stereotypical as you can get: trying to out-drink one another and out on the town with one purpose in mind… Girls. And those girls are of course played by the our cast. And it’s a little worrying how well they do it. Their ladettes are actually better than their guys, who’s laughs come from, well, a lot of cheering and penis gags, whereas the girl’s comedy is just a little more intelligent. Pretty accurate you might say. Worrying though, the four men in the cast are particularly good at playing the ladies. Bauckham and Law are strong, but it’s Higgin’s and Stevenson’s portrays that steal this part of the show. The younger lads of the cast are hilarious from the moment Stevenson walks of stage with the most flamboyant ‘Hiya!’ I have ever seen in my life. Genius.

Godber is known, and respected, for his observational comedies with an edge. Bouncers is no exception and the ‘edge’ that Godber is famed for definitely comes to a climax at the end of the play. Obviously not wanting to give anything away, but it’s unexpected to say the least!

Bouncers in any production would be worth seeing. It’s a play with soul, wit and spark. But this new company as breathed an edge into it I doubt you would see anywhere else. The transition from each set of characters and the devices used to ensure they mix are excellent and the four guys switch between characters with ease. And accomplished performance indeed. It’s shows like this that show why London is one of the best cities in the world for theatre and that if you look in the right places, there are some hidden gems out there.