The Bespoke Overcoat

This gentle gem of a play fitted perfectly into Louche Theatre's original idea of reviving classic one-act plays. It was written in 1952 by Wolf Mankowitz, and based on a Gogol play of the 19th Century called The Overcoat. It was an immediate hit, and the film version made in 1956 won an Oscar for the best 'short'.

It is a love story…not a conventional one, but the love of one old friend for another. Fender does not get enough food, or a new overcoat, in this life.
In life he does not find satisfaction, except in so far as he is able to accept with humour and humility the deprivations forced upon him. Because he can share this with his friend, Morrey, in spite of everything he would rather go on living. It is a typically overlong Jewish joke, of which there is no sadder or funnier story.

Louche Theatre produced The Bespoke Overcoat in February 2007 with the following cast.
Morrey..........Sandy Spence
Fender..........Harry Durnall
Ranting.........Alan Mehdizadeh
The new clerk...Alex Gilbey

Directed by Harry Durnall

The role of Fender was rehearsed by Derek Bell, whose experience and talent gave us a faultless portrayal of Fender. Unfortunately Derek was taken ill just before opening night, so the role was taken over by Harry Durnall.

READ THE REVIEW by Paddy Cooper, Theatre in Wales