By Rosie Hetherington Ironically it was only on for two days, so the chances are you've missed this funny, moving and at times uncomfortable night in a northern pub. Set in a realistic old-fashioned pub you can almost smell the smoke and taste the Boddingtons. Bliss! The Stageworks Theatre Co presents this award winning play starring Toni Griffiths and Adrian Monahan. Their acting ability is stretched to the limit as they take on fourteen characters between them. The series of monologues and duologues allow for the many costume changes, which add to the eccentricity of these ordinary folk. Occasionally, speaking directly to the audience, we are quickly drawn into their fascinating and strange lives. You know them; you've overheard their weird conversations. You've seen them and often avoided them out of fear or embarrassment. There's the old woman supping her nightly Guinness before returning to care for her bedridden husband. The couple of Elvis fans taking a break from listening to their records. The old widower imagining the caress of his late wife and the little lad left behind by his dad. Throughout the evening the landlord and the landlady cheerfully serve their mainly invisible customers with the occasional snide comment to each other. They use imaginary glasses, a good thing considering how many get broken. Just what is their terrible secret? Alcohol plays a large part in the dating game; it's plain to see that some couples, like their drinks have settled. What keeps them together? The deluded ladies man and his put upon girlfriend, the abusive soccer hooligan and his terrified wife, the woman who longs for a change of husband, even the other woman looking to break up a marriage; Mild, Bitter, or Stout love takes many forms. What's your pleasure? The views expressed in these comments are those of the contributor's and not the BBC. | 
