Review: Bear Left at 53Two is ‘festive, fast-paced and feel good’

I am a huge fan of Victoria Wood, I loved her observations on life, love and words like Garibaldi (It is a word that makes me laugh even now, as I type) and the fact that she would set her stories in places that we all knew, which had something quirky going on beneath the everyday humdrum setting.

Bear Left at 53Two

New musical Bear Left is set in a service station; a world of watery cold coffee, curly pasties, egg and cress sandwiches stuck to their cardboard inners and a pit stop for so many of us, which may remind you of your childhood.

For me, I would always run into a service station as a kid, dying for a wee, after drinking too many fizzy drinks on what felt like a long car journey to a seaside holiday destination.

The excitement of stopping there was because I knew I was halfway to somewhere but I had landed in a British Westworld, filled with families eating luncheon meat sandwiches, fruit machines and kids running around, stretching their legs and delighted to be out of the car.

If you are a people watcher, you may find yourself thinking of back stories for the people you see in places like this.

Add the fact that these characters are stuck there for longer than they expected, add some superb songs and stir in some comedy, cinnamon, and some Christmas-themed character developments including; no room at the Inn, an expectant mum, reunited friends following the pandemic, two pals on the verge of parting ways and a rom-com delivered amongst a backdrop of spark plugs and a car battery and you have something that feels festive fast-paced, feelgood, and very funny.

Sometimes too many writers can a be a bad thing, as it means you end up with a piece with mixed messages.

Here though, this is a series of vignettes, linked together by the fact the characters are all in the same place. And Mohammed Barber, Emma Hinds, Steph Lacey and Hannah MacDonald combine their superpowers and the result is love, without pretension or middle class problems, actually.

Ollie Mills and Simon Naylor

The writing is earthy and Ollie Mills and Simon Naylor have created a show which explores kindness in a world where the characters feel stuck and has the feel of Come From Away meets Dinnerladies, due to the quintessentially British setting.

There is a guest celebrity performing as Stevie, a narrator who managed to link all of these stands together.

On the night I attended, this was Peter Gunn who plays beloved Corrie character Brian Packham, and he is delightful and clearly loves being on stage.

With so many characters, some do feel short changed and you want to know more about them, and others could do would benefit from a ‘less is more’ approach.

But the performers connect with each other under Manchester’s arches with one thing in common; this production celebrates the kindness of strangers and with Stop the Boats, war, and the cost of living crisis, this feels even more beautiful and welcome.

Kelsea Knox and Daniel Brennan have then kind of chemistry you long to see, as an expectant mum and a man who does not realise that the love of his life could be a friend who he constantly talks about.

Jasmine Mclvor has a lovely scene with Hannah Macdonald and Ifeoma Uzodinma as two pals who fall out over money, and they also excel and you believe in their backstory.

George Miller is character seeking someone with a neat twist and seeing him play the guitar, reminds you what a talented musician he is and he designs the lighting and has a knack for comedy. Triple threat, alert.

Morag Peacock, Alicia Ellis and Rob Bowden King are part of a heartwarming strand that left me wanting more.

Ripped from the headlines, a mum and daughter live in a Travelodge. They are homeless and living somewhere people stay for pleasure or business. This could be clumsy, but the writing is sharp and the performances have commitment and respect for the plight of these characters in a world of haves and have nots.

New talent emerges in the form of the wonderful Aliyaan Asif, and he has great stage presence and immediacy as a young lad meeting up with a friend, following a long gap.

Abdul Rahman Chunara nails repression, as his character explores coming back, after leaving everything behind for very good reasons. Kenton Craig is a fine example of someone who has come to acting, following a different career path. And he belongs on stage as a cheese and onion crisp loving choir member.

Rebecca McAuley is the every present coffee shop barista, who also knows how to brew up great vocals and she does so with aplomb.

Linford Johnson does the same, and if you saw him in The Glee Club at the Oldham Coliseum, this comes as no surprise, as he owns the stage when he sings. And the cast are backed Eilidh Pollard who is mighty fine musician and vocalist.

Following act one, there is a beautifully bonkers scenes involving two crows, as they observe the humans. Great puppetry and ferociously funny, but a tad too long.

Fantastic Manchester Christmas Theatre Productions

With so much theatre to choose from in Manchester this festive season, Bear Left could easily get lost in the mix, as it is one of the last productions to open.

And with a cost of living crisis, you might be tempted to give it a swerve.

But in a world of so many Christmas Carols, and other shows that you expect to see this time of year, this service station set musical is worth bearing left for on the old sat nav, to support new writing and some fine emerging talent.

And with tickets from £2 – £14, you can grab a mince pie and drink, and still have change compared with most pieces of theatre. And you get to spend time in the arches.

So pull up, get out of the car, stretch your legs, grab a pie and pint and people watch at Pinkerford Service station.

You will be glad you stopped by.

Bear Left is at 53two until 23^rd December and can be booked here