Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Jake Abraham, Michael Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Hampson, Michael Ledwich, Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Keddy Sutton.

Musicians: Ben Gladwin, Greg Joy, Emily Linden, Howard Gray.

There may be a house in New Orleans in which many a poor lad has lost his way, but they never quite lose their way, or regain the right path, as a Liverpool lad fighting the evil intentions of a maniac hell bent on destroying the city, not even a hero of a popular 60s song could match the heroics of the Scouse of the Rising Sun.

Fred Lawless may have taken a sabbatical from writing the festive treat supplied by the Royal Court Theatre this year but that doesn’t mean the theatre’s audiences are in for anything less than a great night out as Kevin Fearon supplies the intimate knowledge of the lives of a half baked Scouser, a pilot who has lost her mojo, a hen night attendee in search of a knight in shining armour who isn’t made of polythene and the continuing story of Liverpool’s favourite, former student and activist and her Russian, former submarine skulking, husband; Daisy and Boris.

There may be a house in New Orleans but the house of the Royal Court is one in which can only be escaped through having laughed like a trooper as Mr. Fearon and the cast take the raised eyebrow of the innuendo on a greater journey, one in which the cast off actor now in charge of North Korea rages against, one on which Boris and Daisy, played once more by the delightful Michael Fletcher and Hayley Hampson, go from the finest flight attendants to the best prison guards seamlessly and in which the excellent Michael Ledwich truly shines as he clicks his red heels together and realises there is nowhere like a Liverpool home.

Kevin Fearon has arguably one of the hardest jobs in Liverpool this winter, not many people can ever truly step into the shoes or mind of Fred Lawless, the consummate writer of the Royal Court’s last seven season Christmas shows but it is a challenge the Executive Producer has taken on, shook his comedy fist at and with great determination, skill and an abundance of talent, has achieved and it is a show that is full on, a continuation of all that you want from a night out when the spectre of winter is ever hanging in the air and the warmth is only a cosy, uproarious night in the theatre away.

Scouse of the Rising Sun is a moment of beauty, of tremendous fun and in which many a poor boy, and girl, will be glad they were one with many each night of the festive run.

Ian D. Hall