The Unfriend at Wyndham’s Theatre

The Unfriend makes its return to London following initial success at Chichester and a run at the Criterion. Mark Gatiss directs with a script by his frequent collaborator Steven Moffat. The two have a wealth of impressive television credits to their names, including co-creating the hit Sherlock. Gatiss is also known as a member of the League of Gentlemen comedy ensemble. Add Sarah Alexander from TV’s Coupling, along with sitcom star Lee Mack, and it’s a production brimming with talent.

The action opens on a cruise ship where we meet a somewhat uptight English couple, Peter and Debbie. They are at odds with the rather exuberant Elsa, an American who befriends them. Humouring her, the couple know that once they’re back in blighty, they’ll have no reason to see her again. Wrong. Elsa invites herself into the family home. If that wasn’t strange enough, Debbie does some digging online and learns their new house guest could actually be a murderer. A comedy of manners ensues with Peter and Debbie being overly polite to their unwanted friend. Along the way, we also meet their moody teens who end up taking a shine to Elsa.

With such a premise, there is a great deal of potential here. Alas, what we are offered is rather thinly drawn out and flimsy. Mack is well cast and gifts us some excellent comic timing, as is to be expected. Frances Barber, who returns to the role of Elsa, is also very fun to watch but Alexander is underused. There is the sense that, despite the best efforts of the cast, there really is not enough for them to excavate from their characters. With such a wealth of talent on and off the stage here, it’s a real shame not to have utilised it.

This marks the first stage play for Moffat and his television background is more than apparent in the writing. In fact, at times it feels as though The Unfriend could have been a television sitcom circa the early 90s when audiences were perhaps more easily entertained. There is fun to be had if you are willing to sit back and enjoy some easy laughs. There is also quite clearly an appetite for the play given it’s now on its third run but The Unfriend feels underdeveloped.

Jonathan Marshall
Images: Manuel Harlan

The Unfriend is at Wyndham’s Theatre from 16^th December until 9^th March 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.