RELAXING on holiday, you make a new best friend.
With drinks flowing, and the sun shining, it seems the most natural thing in the world to invite them to visit you one day.
And then you go home and forget about the invitation.
And then they announce they’re about to turn up.
And then you google them.
And then you are afraid.
Such is the starting point for Steven Moffat’s (Dr Who script writer) comic play, The Unfriend, which can be seen this week and next at Wokingham Theatre.
Debbie and Peter have invited the effervescent Elsa, whom they met – you’ve guessed it – on holiday.
Now she’s on the doorstep, about to disrupt this very nice couple’s polite suburban life and to inflict herself on their two teenage children.
Desperate to get rid of Elsa, Debbie and Peter try gingerly to steer their unwelcome guest, but find themselves incapable of exerting any kind of control.
The comic tension of their situation is regularly topped up by bland visits from a very boring next door neighbour who is so tedious that even after 10 years of cul-de-sac sharing no-one can actually remember his name.
The Unfriend very nearly became an unplay in 2020 due to the pandemic, but launched eventually in 2022, starring Amanda Abingdon and Reece Shearsmith.
It may not be a Christmas holiday play, but it’s certainly a holiday story, one that may find you choking on your interval drink, either with laughter, or with a vague anxiety as you remember meet-up promises you made during this year’s summer vacation.
Director Fiona Rogers said: “This is the perfect English comedy, and Steven Moffat’s writing is fantastic.
“It’s filled with punchlines that really hit your funnybone.
“It made me giggle when I first read it, and drawing out the comedy on stage has been loads of fun.”
Because of this, corpsing (laughing when you’re not meant to on stage) has been a particular hurdle for the cast.
“Getting past the comedy is really difficult, and such a delightful problem to have to overcome,” she said.
“But there is still one scene that we are really struggling to get through without laughing.”
People will love the comedy of the situation, she says.
“It’s not a Christmas play, but it does deal with how we cope with visitors, of whom there are lots at this time of year.
“The Unfriend can certainly be described as a handbook of how not to deal with visitors at Christmas.
“But it’s also got all the elements of a classic English comedy, which I think audiences are going to love.”
Fiona thanks all the actors, crew, and front of house teams for contributing their hard work and talents to the production.
The Unfriend can be seen at Wokingham Theatre from Wednesday, December 3, through to Saturday, December 13, with the exception of Sunday.
Doors open at 7.45pm, and tickets cost £16.
With just one seat left at the time of writing, for the entire two week run, the show is evidently a popular choice for Wokingham audiences.
Anyone hoping to pick up a cancellation should make their way to Wokingham Theatre at 7pm to join a waiting list for return tickets.
For information, visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
