PicoZ

Shirley Valentine writer Willy Russell returns to his native Liverpool with a gritty low-budget comedy.

Shirley Valentine writer Willy Russell returns to his native Liverpool with a gritty low-budget comedy.

Pic started life as the play Stags and Hens in 1978 and retains many stagebound aspects, especially the male and female toilets where much of the action takes place. Most of the Liverpudlian cast have been in Russell plays before, while tyro helmer Ockrent directed the original West End and US stage versions of Russell’s ed ucating Rita.

The strong femme role is Linda (Claire Hackett), who is out on the town with friends on the night before her wedding. Unfortunately her hubbie-to-be and his friends also end up at the same nightspot. Arriving back in Liverpool for a gig is now successful popster Peter (Con O’Neill), Linda’s ex-boyfriend. His friends in the band can’t believe the seedy side of Liverpool (‘Like Beirut without the sun’) and the bad news is they’re signed to perform at that same nightspot.

Pic is an amusingly accurate look at Liverpool lifestyles amongst the young and aimless, and while the transition from humor to drama is a bit uncomfortable Dancin’ thru the Dark is ultimately satisfying and enjoyable.

Dancin’ Thru the Dark

UK

• Production: BBC/Formost. Director Mike Ockrent; Producer Andree Molyneux, Annie Russell; Screenplay Willy Russell; Camera Philip Bonham-Carter; Editor John Stothart; Music Willy Russell; Art Director Paul Joel
• Crew: (Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1990. Running time: 95 MIN.
• With: Claire Hackett Con O'Neill Angela Clarke Mark Womack Julia Deakin Simon O'Brien

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnmFjp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmickaOwqrqMrZ%2BrrV2ptaZ5w5qppGVhZ31xgJFxa25pXw%3D%3D