Before I parked my bum for this lovely, grown-up, late night show by Sue Wilson I knew three things about poet Philip Larkin. He was a librarian, he was the patron saint of grumpiness and he wrote the immortal line: “They fuck you up, your mum and dad…”
What I didn’t know were the secrets of his psyche revealed through the music and the women he loved. Wilson has written and directed a deft and polished life story that has you laughing one minute and gulping down a lump in your throat the next. She weaves Larkin’s poetry, letters and love of music – flawlessly performed by flautist Ilone Antonius-Jones and pianist Matt Platt – around key relationships with a series of wonderful women.
These fragile or wild or sensible women loved him, nurtured him and forgave him much – principally his ego-driven infidelity – and have one thing in common, an intelligence to match his own. They are brought vividly to life by Sunny Ormonde, who slips between one perfectly-realised character and another as she narrates Larkin’s life through their voices. She breaks your heart with “I could be happy with you” as bookish, besotted and discarded early love Ruth Bowman and later has you grinning with an hilarious “Baby, it’s cold outside” as mumsy-but-earthy Betty Mackereth, his secretary and self-styled “bit on the side”.
Funny Women don’t expect to end up liking a curmudgeonly shagabout but with John Telfer creating a powerful and charismatic Larkin, you can’t help yourself. If the real poet had half Telfer’s presence and speccy sex appeal it’s no surprise he got away with murder with his long-suffering girlfriends.
A knowing nod to The Archers – Ormonde plays Lilian Bellamy and Telfer is the Rev Alan Franks – with an extract from Larkin lambasting the venerable Radio 4 soap delighted fans in the audience.
The performances show, though, a breadth of theatrical talent from people at the top of their game that reaches a lot further than Ambridge.
Larkin’ About by the Antonius Players is at Valvona & Crolla (V67) until 18 August. Book your tickets here!
