The Morning After at Above the Stag

PBGSTUDIOS

Thomas wakes up surprised and naked in a young man’s bed, and memories of last night’s one-night-stand come flooding back.

When the boy’s mother joins them for breakfast – in bed! – it’s just the first sign that this is a family that doesn’t do privacy. Or, it turns out, goodbyes…

The Morning After takes a premise which (according to many of the people I spoke with that night) isn’t as far fetched as you would expect and really leans into the comedy of the situation.  Interestingly it was originally written as an LGBTQ+ play but it struggled to find an audience so the writer (Peter Quilter who also wrote a play which was later turned into the film Judy) reframed it with a straight couple, and it became very popular with productions being shown around the world.  A decade later this and this is the premier of the play as it was originally written, with two gay characters at its centre.

It’s a purposely silly, over the top show that is laugh out loud funny throughout.  Whereas the dialogue isn’t always the most naturalistic at times once the show is in full flow it’s easy to put that behind you and settle into the farce of it.  This is a straight-up comedy that unapologetically plays full-on for laughs.  The mother Barbara played by Colleen Daley brings a welcome force of energy into the performance which then propels the rest of the performance forward.

The Morning After is on at Above the Stag until the 1st of March, tickets are £25 and can be booked through the Above the Stag website.  Looking for more shows to watch?  Make sure you check out my theatre section to see what I am living this month.

Tickets were gifted in exchange for a review, all words and opinions are my own.