Brassy Eighties Romp 'Letter to Brezhnev' Still Retains Caustic Edge on Stage
The stage adaptation of the 1985 Liverpool romcom captures the original film's charm and wit, despite its age.
More than 40 years after its cinematic release, the Liverpool-set romantic comedy "Letter to Brezhnev" has been adapted into a stage play, retaining much of the original film's gritty charm and sharp wit. The low-budget 1985 movie, which launched the career of actress Margi Clarke, centered on two working-class friends from Kirkby who embark on a night out with two Soviet sailors.
The play revisits the story of Teresa, a character known for her mundane job and desire for excitement, and Elaine, who yearns for romance and an escape from unemployment. Elaine's hopeful connection with a poetic seaman named Peter ends when he returns to Russia, leaving her to deliver the titular message to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
Writer Frank Clarke's adaptation is noted for preserving the caustic edge and brassy wit of his original screenplay, preventing the narrative from descending into sentimentality. Director Nicole Behan's staging is described as a spirited production, with a set comprised of "a mountain of bric-a-brac" and a soundtrack featuring 1980s hits from The Smiths and The Human League, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia.
The production features Angela Simms as the vivacious Teresa and Ellie Clayton as Elaine, who navigates the emotional conflict between her loyalties and her heart. The play's narrative, which presents the protagonists facing external obstacles, is said to avoid feeling formulaic.
In a separate review, Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men In A Boat," adapted by Al Smith, is also discussed. This version reimagines the Victorian travelogue as a "floating stag party" featuring a puppet mongrel named Monty. While the adaptation aims for zany comedy and includes elements of Victorian music hall, a "wonky arch" framing a small skiff, and clever optical illusions, the reviewer suggests the comedy is sometimes "overladen with gimmicks."
Christopher Haydon's direction of "Three Men In A Boat" incorporates innuendo and culminates in a confrontation with swans. Musical contributions include Edwardian parlour songs and a spoof of Gilbert and Sullivan. The cast includes Richard David-Caine as George, Jonny Weldon as Jerome, and Bronte Barbe as Morris. Despite numerous digressions, the adaptation is deemed to remain buoyant.
The theatre production of "Letter to Brezhnev" is currently playing at Liverpool Royal Court.