My Favourite Summer is quickly revealed to be an ironic title for the play – surely no-one’s idyll features what appears to be a grim looking building site. But the Britpop soundtrack is a nice touch, taking me back to my tweenage years.
Supergrass, Definitely Maybe-era Oasis, Blur et al set the scene effectively as we take a look into Dave’s experience of summer 1995. It should be perfect – unspeakably hot weather, early 20s and living with the girl of his dreams.
Trouble is he’s a jobless drama college graduate and the girl of his dreams happens to be his best mate, oblivious to his affections and about to leave the country to study anthropology in America.
When he comes up with the brainwave of taking on her on a surprise holiday, where he will finally reveal his true feelings towards Sarah, there’s just one obstacle – finding the cash.
His quest takes him into the dead end summer job from purgatory, with the co-worker from hell – Melvyn. A red polo shirt-clad demon who can flick from straight-talking close-minded philosopher to psychopath in less than a second, he delights in sharing tales of other people’s misfortune at his hands.
But one man’s pain is the audience’s pleasure, as the often crude exchanges between Melvyn and Dave spark laughs galore and empathy at the awkwardness of unrequited love.
Melvyn’s often graphic teaching methods to help Dave snare his girl – and Dave’s inept turn as reluctant pupil also spark more than a wince or two.
There may be just three actors portraying just a handful of characters but the genuine warmth that arises from them makes the show go deeper into the heart than its bare surroundings. And just like some of those sparkling Britpop hits of the mid 90s there’s an undercurrent of melancholy amidst the earthy subject matter.
