Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Catrin Aaron, David Birrell, Natalie Casey, Edward Harrison, Javier Marzan, Robin Morrissey, Eileen O, Brien, Lucy Phelps, Graeme Rooney, Voice of Ken Dodd.

History has a way of repeating itself, what goes round will no doubt come round again. It is the comfort in the despairing knowledge that for every action…the same mistakes will be played out, over and over again and the same fortitude shown in national absurdity relied upon. For those old enough to remember the period in which an inept leader of the country was finally shown the door and the nation stumbled upon the lost ideals of the Sexual Revolution, Stephen Sharkey’s Sex And The Three Day Week is an homage to the strife, internal conflict of repressed sexuality and people making the most of the black-outs.

Whilst it should be noted that the play is perhaps not one more closely associated with The Playhouse’s prestigious output, it nevertheless does offer a look back to when Britain was on the verge of collapse as the policies pursued by an ineffectual Government ravaged the psyche of national discontent, to which the fruits of that have been with us ever since.

For Natalie Casey, the parts of both Angela McManaman and Holly cemented this wonderful actor’s talents completely. To watch her perform is to understand why she is so highly rated and on the back of coming to Liverpool in the sensational Flint Street Nativity at the Playhouse Theatre and other performances in Liverpool, audiences will not be disappointed in her execution of the part. Full of verve and vitality, she captures the eye and makes it glad to be alive.

The returning Javier Marzan, last seen in the phenomenal No Wise Men, and Robin Morrissey also shined but very different reasons. The framing of true farce in Mr. Marzan’s performance was a delight and for Robin Morrissey, his portrayal as the sexually shy but flowering male feminist and the object of the desires of the French Girl Friday Fanny was as enjoyable as it should have been.

The music which accompanied the play fitted in perfectly and it will be a long time before audiences will get the imagery of Free’s All Right Now and the superb Eagles track Peaceful, Easy Feeling out of their minds for a long time to come.

Sex And The Three Day will tickle the parts other plays neglect.

Ian D. Hall