For some people football is a matter of life and death. For others it is more important than that. At least that’s what managerial legend Bill Shankly professed.
Bizarre as it may sound though, it’s true. Certainly in the case of Shankly’s namesake Bill whose holiday with his wife in Majorca inconveniently coincides with the 1990 World Cup.
The couple are on a two-week break trying to rekindle a romance that is rapidly dying out. But the distraction of the semi-final clash between England and arch rivals West Germany could be the straw that breaks the marriage’s back.
An Evening with Gary Lineker is the hilarious story of the couple’s desperate attempts to rescue their marriage set against the backdrop of the infamous 90 minutes, extra time and penalty shoot-out in Turin.
Written by leading authors Chris England and Arthur Smith, An Evening with Gary Lineker focuses on the small group of English holidaymakers in their hotel in Spain.
Joining the couple for the match are Ian, Bill’s outrageously annoying friend whose lack of social graces is matched only by his desperation for a girlfriend; Birgitta, a stunning German holiday rep with a passion for Kevin Keegan and pronouns and Dan, a travel writer and football fanatic who is currently scoring with Monica behind Bill’s back.
An Evening with Gary Lineker has been described by the Daily Express as “probably the funniest play in the West End and probably the universe” and by the Evening Standard as “one of the year’s sharpest and funniest comedies”.
It was also nominated for the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Starring John Montanaro, Faye Paris, Steve Casaletto, Julia Calvert and Michael Zammit Maempel, An Evening with Gary Lineker is being staged at by Mellow Drama at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta on 4, 5, 6 and 7 May.
Tickets ranging from Lm2 to Lm6.50 are on sale now and can be purchased on-line at www.teatrumanoel.com, in person at the Manoel Theatre box office or by phone on 21 246 389.
The play is directed by James Calvert and has been certified AO.