Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Mark Gatiss
What if the friendly fellow traveller that you met on your holiday turns out to be a murderer? What would you do?
This is the central conceit of The Unfriend, the much-loved comedy drama by television writer Steven Moffat, known for the likes of Doctor Who, Sherlock and Coupling. Directed by long-time collaborator Mark Gatiss, who also directed last year’s The Way Old Friends Do at the Park Theatre, this sitcom-like kitchen-sink comedy is a perfect example of both of their talents. Having opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre then transferred to the Criterion Theatre, The Unfriend hits the Wyndham’s Theatre’s stage with a new star-studded cast.
Happily married British couple Peter (comedy royalty Lee Mack from Not Going Out) and Debbie (Coupling’s Sarah Alexander), meet Elsa from Denver, Colorado (Frances Barber), on a cruise. She is the definition of overbearing, attaching herself to them with force. Months later, they’ve invited Elsa to stay at their house with them and their two teenage children. But before she arrives, Debbie uncovers the fact that Elsa is actually a serial killer, with suspicion placed upon her for the deaths of almost everyone in her family. Try as they might to get her to leave, Peter and Debbie are far too polite to force a mass murderer out of their home.
Moffat’s writing is comedy gold. Threading classic little recurring jokes and relatable, familial gags, the script of The Unfriend is as tight as can be, with every moment of comedy linking back to the central story and characters. There is no excess and no unnecessary deviations. Gatiss directs the show with a focus on comedic timing and empathetic moments, keeping indulgence to a minimum.
Frances Barber shines as the unfriendable ‘friend’. Her loveable and charismatic nature almost makes you, as an audience member, forget that she is a murderer. Her analogy as a Donald Trump figure is treated with subtlety, only reminding you of there being any political bite to these slapstick proceedings towards the end of the show.
Lee Mack does what he does best, dealing out deadpan hilarity as the father of the family, but he really shines in moments of comedic mime. Sarah Alexander also excels, bringing a sense of grounding that the characters often begin to lose. Nick Sampson’s performance is notable as he may be present only as a comic fop, but his relatable neighbourly demeanour and passive aggression hidden behind civility is so well executed that his very presence on stage garners laughs.
The Unfriend is a perfect night out at the theatre if what you need is uncontrollable laughter. You’ll not only chuckle your heart out, but also be invested in an expertly written comic storyline that is a must-see.
Runs until 9 March 2024
