Birds fly high

Jan 25 2008 Flintshire Chronicle

IT WAS one of television’s most fondly remembered sitcoms, the tale of two Liverpool girls sharing a flat and trying to cope with life’s problems.

The Liver Birds ran for a remarkable nine series between 1969 and 1978 and made the name of its writer Carla Lane (who initially co-wrote it with Myra Taylor).

As so often happened in the 1970s, the show also became a stage play for the summer holiday trade.

John Chapman joined Carla Lane in writing the script and the Bernard Delfont production went on stage at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in June, 1974.

Now the play has been revived by Warrington’s Centenary Theatre as its contribution towards Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. It will go on stage at the Brindley Arts Theatre, Runcorn, from January 29 and run until February 2.

Aimee Scally, who is playing Sandra in the comedy, said: “It’s still a very funny play and we are having a great time in rehearsals.”

The stage play, like the television series, follows the two flat-sharers as they contend with problems of careers, parents, the occasional vicar, money (and lack of it) and boyfriends, of which there is no lack.

Joining Aimee as the other Liver ‘bird’ will be Warrington-based Vikki Jackson, as Beryl.

The original television series began with Beryl (played by Polly James) flat sharing with Dawn (Pauline Collins).

But the series had a few cast changes during its run. Dawn was to move out and be replaced by Sandra (Nerys Hughes) and it is the Beryl/Sandra pairing that most people recall from the series. It was also the pairing at the time of the stage play.

Later, Beryl was to be replaced by Carol (Elizabeth Estensen).

The girls were very different characters.

Ms Scally explains: “Sandra was the quieter, more conventional, one and Beryl was the scatty, wilder girl with more boyfriends.” The two, however, were perfectly matched for comic effect.

The girls lived in a flat in Huskisson Street and the series brought some measure of fame to the original Liverpool birds, the two birds atop the Royal Liver Building at Liverpool’s Pier Head.

The theme tune – performed by The Scaffold – also etched itself into people’s memories.

For Centenary Theatre chairman Dan Grimes, the play seemed just right for Liverpool’s special year.

“It has an hilarious, intelligent script which will have people falling off their chairs with laughter,” he says. “I am sure audience members will be able to relate to all the characters in some way.”

The play features the mothers of both girls, including Sandra’s mum, who in the original was played by Mollie Sugden in an exaggerated snobbish fashion. There’s also a vicar and a couple of lads, Paul and Robert.

While based in Warrington, Centenary Theatre is staging the show in Runcorn for a simple reason – there are no theatre facilities in Warrington.

“We have been campaigning for a while for a theatre in the town,” says Aimee. “Recently, Pete Postlethwaite joined the campaign and he is, of course, from Warrington.

“His cousin, John, has also been a member of the theatre for several years and is currently vice- chairman and has the job of co-ordinating props for Centenary Productions.”

While waiting, however, the company is very happy with The Brindley. “It has excellent facilities and is very suitable for us,” says Ms Scally.

The stage play, which is getting its only performance this year from Centenary, was a big success in the summer of 1974 with Polly James repeating her role as Beryl but with Rachael Davies playing Sandra.

For Centenary, it will be one of their biggest shows.

They have won a number of awards for their productions over the years and annually present two musicals and two plays together with the odd concert.

“The standard of performance is high,” explains Ms Scally, a charity worker when not on stage.

“That’s why we have won so many awards.”

They reckon they have a hit on their hands with The Liver Birds, a comedy which is more than just a television spin-off but a play in its own right.

It certainly captures the spirit of Liverpool in the 1970s, when girls were beginning to find their independence but times were still tough for many, including flat-sharing girls.

Aimee and Vikki visited Liverpool and the real Liver Birds to capture some of the flavour of the city, although it is slightly different today from the hard times of the 1970s.

It was changing times which probably resulted in the failure of an attempt to revive the television series in 1996.

Some 18 years after the final show, the sequel Whatever Happened to the Liver Birds was launched with Beryl and Sandra, both coping with failed marriages.

Polly James and Nerys Hughes repeated their roles, but there was some curious tinkering with characters – Lucien, who had been Carol’s brother, was now Beryl’s brother, and Carmen McSharry, who had played Carol’s mother, was now Beryl’s mother.

Alas, the middle-aged single life did not seem as captivating as that of the younger Beryl and Sandra. The series ran for seven episodes and that was it.

Wisely, Centenary Theatre has kept the girls young and full of the cheeky humour which first appealed to television viewers.

“The play holds up well and it really is very funny,” says Aimee.

The Liver Birds can be seen at The Brindley Arts Centre, Runcorn, from January 29-February 2. Ring the box office on 0151 907 8360.