Writer Bain takes the role of Rob. In another’s hands, this could be a cheap Francis Begbie knockoff. But Bain brings wit, charm and tenderness to the characterisation. With most of the overt comedy deftly handled by Paul Thirkell’s Paul, Christie Russell-Brown as Penelope (“Fuckin’ Penelope!”) has perhaps the hardest job as the buzzkill who punctures the party with doses of reality. Her earthy turn, however, is a gift, providing necessary weight as the story’s arc develops.
Jordan Murphy’s stellar direction ensures that there’s barely a wasted scene here. In fact, if there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that it would have been fun to have spent a bit more time with these characters than the 60 minutes we enjoy.
Having originally played during The Vault Festival in 2017, Living a Little is an energetic, hilarious and, ultimately, poignant experience that fully deserves to find a large audience.