The Way Old Friends Do (play)

The Way Old Friends Do is a play by Ian Hallard.^[1] It is a comedy that tells the story of the world's first drag ABBA tribute band, formed by two old schoolfriends who meet again by chance.

The Way Old Friends Do
Written by	Ian Hallard
Date premiered	17 February 2023
Place premiered	The Studio, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Original language	English
Genre	Comedy

Plot

The play follows the ups and downs in the friendship of Peter and Edward, who were at school together in Birmingham in the 1980s. Edward came out to Peter as gay, and Peter as an ABBA fan. They find each other again after twenty years of estrangement and book a one-off gig at the local theatre as a drag ABBA tribute band. They decide to play Frida and Agnetha, and recruit wannabe actress Jodie and eccentric rehearsal pianist Mrs Campbell as Björn and Benny. Stage manager Sally is the final member of the team.

Avid Australian fan, Christian, convinces them to pursue the idea, and they embark on a life on the road. However Christian's romantic involvement with Edward leads to the breakdown of his friendship with Peter.

Production history

UK Tour (2023)

The play made its world premiere in The Studio at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 17 February 2023, before touring the UK. The production was directed by Mark Gatiss.^[1]

West End (2023)

The play transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London's West End from 17 August until 9 September 2023.^[2]

Cast and characters

Character	UK Tour	West End
	2023
Sally	Donna Berlin
Edward	James Bradshaw	Anton Tweedale
Mrs Campbell	Sara Crowe
Peter	Ian Hallard
Christian	Andrew Horton
Jodie	Rose Shalloo
Voice of Nan	Miriam Margolyes
Voice of Radio DJ	Paul O'Grady

Critical reception

The Guardian's Arifa Akbar and The Arts Desk's Aleks Sierz both gave the play 3 out of 5 stars,^[1][3] while the Evening Standard's Nick Curtis gave the play 2 out of 5 stars.^[4] WhatsOnStage.com's Diane Parkes gave the play 4 out of 5 stars,^[5] and Libby Purves gave it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as "ABBAsolutely a delight" and that "you're a curmudgeon if you don't warm to it."^[6]

References

1. Akbar, Arifa (19 March 2023). "The Way Old Friends Do review – super troupers shine in a fun, frothy comedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
2. "The Way Old Friends Do transfers to the West End's Criterion Theatre | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
3. Sierz, Aleks (20 March 2023). "The Way Old Friends Do, Park Theatre review - sweet, but flimsy". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
4. Curtis, Nick (21 August 2023). "The Way Old Friends Do at the Criterion Theatre review: one for the ABBA-solutists". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
5. Parkes, Diane (24 February 2023). "'The Way Old Friends Do' at Birmingham Rep review – ABBA goes drag in a witty world premiere". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
6. Purves, Libby (18 April 2023). "The Way Old Friends Do, Touring: ABBAsolutely a delight". Theatrecat.com. Retrieved 27 December 2023.