I cannot praise highly enough this sensitively written, brilliantly directed and acted play. The cast is superb, everyone is a star - down to the shortest, simplest parts, the characters are believable and well rounded. Not one dud note in the whole piece.
And what a cast! What a treat to see these treasures all together. The superlative Judi Dench is, as ever, totally her character - the blowsy club proprietor with a heart of gold, generally half-cut and constantly pouring scotch down herself and others. She's the needy, disillusioned pivot for the has-beens, wannabees and seekers of false joy, who dredge comfort from the forced gaiety of her pink-lit ambiance. Bill Nighy is always a treat to watch and gives the goods as a struggling writer; Charles Grey, the OTT gay agent with his camp acolyte is smooth (this is the gracious actor who gave his voice to the ailing Jack Hawkins, who lost his to throat cancer); and Francesca Annis, ever beautiful, hiding her despair under the gloss of sophisticated Devil-may-care. They are just part of a truly star cast in this black comedy of people picking themselves up after the horrors of war. It is never too much; each scene beautifully trimmed.
Accolades to the writer, director, the BBC and the marvellous players. I have watched it over and over again. Did it win an award? It must have done.