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 a protracted 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 method that entertains, informs and strikes an viewers isn’t any straightforward feat.
After seeing Nicky Allt’s magnificent ‘YNWA – The Story of Liverpool Soccer Membership’, I can confidently declare mission achieved. 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 the most effective 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’ this can be a tour de pressure of the Anfield songbook, and but it’s much more than that.
Getting into the previous Royal Court docket Theatre, which has stood on the nook of Liverpool’s Roe Avenue, neglected 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 appropriate is a pub, whereas on the left a band will present the sounds. The emotions are acquainted, the setting immediately identifiable.
That is the story of a soccer membership, however one advised by the eyes of its folks, a typical Liverpool household, performed by the flawless Mark Morraghan, the sensible Lindzi Germain and Jake Abraham, Lenny Wooden – the keen butt of many a joke, whose comedian timing was excellent – and his knowledgeable sparring accomplice, Lydia Morales-Wooden.
The performances are additionally backed up with archive footage and pictures performed on an enormous display screen above a bit of terrace representing the previous Spion Kop, and an excellent 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 replicate 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’ll 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 experience 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 affect 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 Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish have been retold and the glory years performed out earlier than their eyes.
Once you see this present, as you should, look out for the hilarious staff speak that includes Dalglish (Mark Morraghan) and Peter Beardsley (Jake Abraham). Additionally, you will be handled to a sometimes Liverpudlian therapy of the Harry Enfield Scousers trope. Nonetheless, in coping with the ’80s, we’re compelled to face our two biggest sources of heartbreak. And you could possibly hear a pin drop because the forged skillfully handled the horrors of Heysel and Hillsborough.
The way in which wherein 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 carry a crowd weighed down with sorrow for the approaching chapters within the membership’s historical past was much more exceptional.
To say it was easy does a disservice to the actors, whose performances have been as expert as they have been deeply transferring, however that’s the way it appeared to me.
And so it was that we arrived on the Jurgen Klopp period, by way of 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, due to 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 have been price each second of the standing ovation they obtained. After the nerve-shredding and exhausting finish to final season, it was all the things we wanted and extra, as we face yet one more epic season of ups and downs.
I believe it would at all times 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 here.
