Julie and Ben’s younger son Timmy (whom I cannot credit because both an usher with the name badge saying Staff [he refused to give me his own name], and the Duty Manager Charley Ive, refused to tell me which of the two named and photographed in the programme, children, Maxwell Rich and Rex Bamber, was playing Timmy that night. They made me feel as if I had criminal intentions in asking for this information which every other theatre provides freely to reviewers and the audience.

James Cotterill’s revolving set gives different rooms but we don’t really get the spaciousness of the Central Park apartment house. The men wearing 1980s wigs just look like men wearing wigs.  The clothes the women wear are just right.  

The second act takes place in 2000 after the “hanging chad” recount in Florida.  Ben and Mort have died and shockingly Scotty has died of AIDS. There are to be just four at the Christmas meal that night, Julie, a grown up Tim (Alexander Marks), Faye and family friend Jeff.  There is a very funny scene where Shelley shouts abuse down the phone at her estranged mother.  Again Tracy-Ann Oberman rules the roost with her fabulously witty and spikey remarks and there will be a warm hearted denouement of someone’s anonymous generosity and revelations about the ruby necklace.