The performances are lovely and Bob Bailey's café set is perfect with its table and chairs and glass covers for the ideal vegan brownie. Who could fail to warm to these characters? The boy from the Midlands, thrilled by the coastline and the ornithology.
Kevin Elyot was commissioned to write a new play for Hampstead which was My Night With Reg which was turned down, presumably by, the then, Artistic Director at Hampstead, Jenny Topper. Not something you want to put on your cv! Stephen Daldry had just taken over as Artistic Director at the Royal Court and he snapped up My Night With Reg, asked Roger Michell to direct and cast David Bamber as Guy, Anthony Calf as John, the ebullient John Sessions as Daniel, and Joe Duttine as Eric.
Tennessee Williams described this play as, "My most beautiful play since Streetcar, the very heart of my life." That quote has since been criticised as raising expectations of the more modern play which was special to Tennessee Williams because it is about his sister Rose, but likening it to one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century.