It’s ironic watching a play called The Good Landlord when the Government has announced that more rights for tenants are coming into law.
The title is also ironic because neither of the two landlords in Pound Road Productions’ play behaves in ways that are good.
Jack (Jason Adam) is being evicted from a damp, mouldy, windowless flat for not paying his rent. His eviction comes just after his girlfriend has upped and left him.
Together with his friend Shaun (Blayne Kelly), they decide to sublet a cupboard to try and make up the rent, but Jack decides he is going to be a ‘good landlord’.
He throws himself into the role by praying on the desperation of an evicted woman, Sony (Caroline Gray), planning to rip her off as she’s about to come into money.
However, Sony is not what she seems.
Full disclosure, in my day job, I write about all kinds of property, including residential, and have written about the Renters Rights Bill, so landlord and tenant rights are something I’m familiar with.
I’ve also been a renter and been ripped off by landlords, as well as having good landlords.
This play touches on some of the issues faced by tenants, but makes it hard to feel sympathetic for those involved.
It’s an important theme that should make you feel angry, but this play isn’t a vehicle for that, and rather than dark, penetrating humour, it rushes instead towards slapstick and farce.
Performed with gusto, elements are added to set up humorous interludes, such as Shaun randomly being struck dumb and paralysed for a conveniently long period.
But it’s clunky and sometimes overly contrived.
The style of humour and narrative emphasis drowns out any message about the unfair treatment of tenants. Given what they do to Jack’s landlord, Marianne (Julia Winwood), that’s who I left feeling sorry for.
It’s a play that needs a bit more bite. I’m giving The Good Landlord ⭐️⭐️ and a half stars.
The Good Landlord, Omnibus Theatre
Written by Ethan and Kalman Dean-Richards in collaboration with working-class renters
Directed by Yusuf Niazi
Cast: Jason Adam, Blayne Kelly, Caroline Gray and Julia Winwood
Running time: 75 minutes, no interval.
Booking until 22 November, for more information and to buy tickets, visit the Omnibus Theatre website.
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