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THEATRE: Timeless tale of Billy Liar – a man who can't help living a dream
In the mythical land of Ambrosia, Billy Fisher is a ruler, hero and lover. In reality, he's an undertaker's clerk in a dull Yorkshire town.
Middle Ground Theatre Company bring the classic tale of Billy's fantastical escapes from his humdrum life to Worthing's Connaught Theatre and to Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud.
For millions, Billy Liar will always be Tom Courtney who immortalised the role in John Schlesinger's 1963 film alongside Julie Christie.
But as Middle Ground director Michael Lunney points out, all these years later, the tale is as timeless as ever.
With a mixture of deceit and good intentions, Billy exaggerates and fabricates every aspect of his life, earning him the nickname Billy Liar.
He's succeeded in becoming engaged to two different girls – drippy, prim Barbara and brassy, foul-mouthed Rita – while being in love with a third, the beautiful free-spirited Liz.
Billy's minor indiscretions begin to snowball hilariously until his life is a mess and nobody believes a word he says.
Billy's aspirations as a script-writer may finally come true when he has a chance to leave for London and start a new life, but will he be brave enough to live his dream?
As Michael says, it's something everyone can relate to. Billy is the 19-year-old who looks around and says 'is this it?' "It's about someone for whom the life dreamed and the life lived will never be the same.
"We are all trapped in different ways. At the ripe old age of 44, I sit on the phone chasing venues for dates and selling productions... and that's why I can relate to Billy!"
For Michael, it's a production which helps keep Middle Ground going.
"We are unsubsidised and we are reliant on box-office sales and bums on seats. We don't receive a local authority grant or an Arts Council grant. We are 21 years old in October, and have survived without any kind of funding for that long, which is a hell of an achievement.
"You can never take your foot off the gas. You have to work ridiculous hours to make it stand up, and that's why we have some rep warhorses."
The company is committed to new writing and has indeed done some significant new writing work down the years: "But we also have to do shows which will get bums on seats."
Which is where Billy Liar comes in...
"But it's also a great story. A timeless story. It's on the curriculum. It's one of those books that has never gone away."
n Billy Liar is at Worthing's Connaught Theatre from May 5-9. Tickets on 01903 206206. The show is at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre from May 18-23. Tickets on 01483 440000.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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