People at The Lowry Review
People
by Alan Bennett
15-19 October 2013
Reviewed by Debbie Tasker
People a new play by the brilliant Alan Bennett is showing this week at The Lowry Theatre in Manchester. We were lucky enough to attend and had a fantastic evening.
Lady Dorothy Stacepoole, Dottie for short (played by Sian Phillips) lives in the decaying stately family home in South Yorkshire along with her "companion" Iris (Brigit Forsyth). With no money for the upkeep of the place her lesbian sister, Arch Deacon June (Selina Cadell), wants to hand it over to the National Trust much to Dottie’s disgust as she has other plans.
The first act introduces us to the three main characters and with humour and a touch of subtle darkness we learn that Alan Bennett is obviously not a fan of the National Trust and what it stands for. Nor is he broken Britain of the 80s when "Everything had a price. If it didn't have a price it didn't have value".
The second half starts on a much lighter note as the country house is used as the location for a pornographic movie! These were my favourite scenes. With perfect comic timing it had me and my mum doubled up laughing. But all too soon we were back to the fact that the house will eventually have to be given up along with all its heirlooms including chamber pots whose contents are the pee of famous past visitors (yes, you read it right!)
The cobwebbed run down interior is spectacularly transformed to its former grandeur in front of your eyes in a very clever set change.
So Dottie puts on her moth eaten mink coat to show visitors round day in day out. Dottie says "People spoil things" and I couldn’t agree more.
People is a touching and very entertaining play and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to everybody. Granted it is not Bennett’s best writing but nevertheless still a great show with a marvellous cast. It gave me food for thought and had me laughing and feeling quite sad in equal parts. Go and see it!
Rating: 5/5 
Running until Saturday 19 October 2013. Tickets cost from £18 to £30.
For more information or to book tickets click here.
