Playwright Joe Orton had a short career brought to an untimely end when he was murdered by his lover in 1967. His work often caused outrage at a time when attitudes were far less liberal than today.
Loot opened in Cambridge in February 1965 to scathing reviews. Following a rewrite it had a short run in Manchester this time receiving a more favourable response. The next year Orton completed another rewrite and in September it opened in London, this time it was a success subsequently receiving an Evening Standard Award for Best Play.
At the time, the Lord Chamberlain had powers to censor plays and enforced some of the content be removed in the interests of ‘good manners’. Now fifty years after the death of Orton the play returns to the London stage and is seen uncut for the first time.
Loot is a play of dubious morals and the title alludes to money stolen from a bank by two cheerfully amoral young men, Hal and Dennis. The cash, hidden in the coffin of Hal’s recently deceased mother, is coveted by Fay, a mercenary nurse who will do anything for money; she has already had a series of marriages that appear to have been made solely for the inheritance.
There follows a madcap series of events that holds the attention of the audience throughout. The humour of the writing and the delivery of the material from an excellent seven strong cast make this production a joy to watch from start to finish. It is very funny and far less shocking for a 21st century audience than it was 50 years ago.
Sinéad Matthews is quite brilliant as Fay, the seven time widowed nurse. She commands the stage and is thoroughly convincing in her role. Special mention should also go to Anah Ruddin who, whilst having no lines (she is the dead Mrs McLeavy), manages to get one of the loudest curtain calls for her wonderful performance.
Ian Redford is McLeavy, a devout Catholic widower with a love of roses and father to only child Hal (Sam Frenchum) whose upbringing makes him incapable of lying. Calvin Demba plays Dennis, a ladies’ man who has impregnated five women and yet still has a very ‘close’ relationship with Hal.
Experienced actor Christopher Fulford is the flamboyant and sneaky police inspector who has a less than professional approach to his police duties. Raphael Bar has a lesser role as Meadows, the bobby on the beat.
The dark funereal set (Gabriella Slade) is a perfect accompaniment to the show’s humour. Overall this is a great production and highly recommended.
