The story of Liverpool Soccer Membership is so long as it’s intricate, an unrivalled journey that’s expertly performed out in a present for the ages.
Soccer on Merseyside is one thing akin to faith, a lifestyle and a worldview. The historical past of Liverpool FC, replete with tales of wonderful triumph, hollowing defeats, heroes and villains, tragedies and redemption, is an extended and heady one.
Its traditions and tales are handed from one technology to the following, and the duty of weaving all of them collectively in a approach that entertains, informs and strikes an viewers is not any straightforward feat.
After seeing Nicky Allt’s magnificent ‘YNWA – The Story of Liverpool Soccer Membership’, I can confidently declare mission completed. The present is a triumph.
From the haunting and delightful rendition of ‘You’ll By no means Stroll Alone’ by newcomer, Lydia Morales-Scully – presumably one of the best model I’ve heard that wasn’t carried out by Gerry Marsden himself, or sung by the Kop – to the spine-tingling ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ it is a tour de pressure of the Anfield songbook, and but it’s much more than that.
Coming into the previous Royal Court docket Theatre, which has stood on the nook of Liverpool’s Roe Avenue, ignored by the magnificent St George’s Corridor since 1938, we’re greeted by six gleaming European Cups earlier than being guided to our seats. The balcony overlooking the circle in entrance of the stage is draped in banners, and earlier than us is a set that resembles all the trimmings of each match day. A terrace takes centre stage and to the precise is a pub, whereas on the left a band will present the sounds. The sentiments are acquainted, the setting immediately identifiable.
That is the story of a soccer membership, however one instructed by the eyes of its folks, a typical Liverpool household, performed by the flawless Mark Morraghan, the good Lindzi Germain and Jake Abraham, Lenny Wooden – the keen butt of many a joke, whose comedian timing was good – and his skilled sparring accomplice, Lydia Morales-Wooden.
The performances are additionally backed up with archive footage and pictures performed on a large display screen above a piece of terrace representing the previous Spion Kop, and an outstanding supporting forged which incorporates Ben Gladwin, Matt Connor, Adam Keast and Daniel Ross assist us alongside our journey.
‘A present for the ages’
We begin with the founding of the membership, and with Everton president, John Houlding “within the dock” at a gathering of the membership’s shareholders, and from right here the viewers are grabbed by the hand and whisked on an journey in time, pausing to mirror on key moments, and revisit previous heroes.
Because the play is written by a Scouse veteran of the Kop and of many a Liverpool away day, you’d anticipate there to be loads of Scouse in-jokes and digs on the membership’s most historic rivals, Everton. You gained’t be disillusioned. However within the case of the latter, the humour is mild and even affords the Blues an opportunity to enjoy Liverpool’s relegation distress. Right here, Jake Abraham is great because the jubilant Evertonian whose pleasure turns to bitterness later within the present.
After discovering the origins of the membership and studying of the influence of two World Wars on Liverpool FC and town, and the well-known title-winning facet of the Nineteen Twenties, we’re launched to the age of kings. Right here, the viewers virtually took the roof off the previous place because the tales of Invoice Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish had been retold and the glory years performed out earlier than their eyes.
Whenever you see this present, as you should, look out for the hilarious workforce discuss that includes Dalglish (Mark Morraghan) and Peter Beardsley (Jake Abraham). Additionally, you will be handled to a usually Liverpudlian remedy of the Harry Enfield Scousers trope. Nonetheless, in coping with the ’80s, we’re pressured to face our two best sources of heartbreak. And you could possibly hear a pin drop because the forged skillfully handled the horrors of Heysel and Hillsborough.
The best way by which the play switches gear between the glittering success, exuberance and humour of the ’70s and ’80s and the grim actuality of two sporting tragedies, that needlessly claimed so many lives, is sort of an achievement. To then elevate a crowd weighed down with sorrow for the approaching chapters within the membership’s historical past was much more outstanding.
To say it was easy does a disservice to the actors, whose performances had been as expert as they had been deeply transferring, however that’s the way it appeared to me.
And so it was that we arrived on the Jurgen Klopp period, through Souness, Evans, Houllier, Benitez, Hodgson (mercifully briefly) and Rodgers. Alongside the way in which, we go to the treble-winning season of 2001 and naturally Istanbul. And, because of Klopp, the present is assured of a contented ending and a raucous finale.
This was genuinely among the finest nights I’ve had on the theatre, and the performances had been value each second of the standing ovation they obtained. After the nerve-shredding and exhausting finish to final season, it was every little thing we would have liked and extra, as we face one more epic season of ups and downs.
I think it is going to all the time be that. That is, in any case, a Liverpool FC present for the ages.
The present runs from August 30 to September 3 at Liverpool’s Royal Court docket, you will discover extra particulars right here.
