Belper Players bring to life John Godber’s classic “Gym and Tonic”, set in a health spa and offering a tongue-in-cheek look at a range of different exercise classes and health treatments, whilst also providing a well-rounded story featuring some expertly realised characters. Godber excels at comedic moments, and this play has bucketloads of them, but where it truly shines is in the character-driven storyline, as the amateur cast smoothly transition between light-hearted frivolity to a more serious tone in the second half. Under the direction of Lou Jenkins, this play has something for everyone, with tense drama punctuating the slapstick, and some more in-depth political undertones.
The play focuses on married couple Don and Shirley Weston (Mik Horvath and Sarah Henderson), who decide to take a holiday at Scardale Hall to escape the stress of their teenage children and aging parents. Don is a little unsure about some of the treatments on offer, and it is his character that the audience is likely to connect with the most. Horvath does an excellent job of selling his reluctance to partake in dance classes and massages – he is a natural at physical comedy. A scene towards the end of act one sees Don attempt a “sliding” class, and had the audience erupting with laughter. Horvath definitely has funny bones. Shirley is more keen and willing to get involved, and Henderson gives such a natural performance that she is captivating to watch. Shirley changes across the play as she learns more about herself and her relationship with Don. By the play’s end, it is easy to see how and why Shirley’s views have changed – her sudden realisation in the final scene might come across as ham-fisted in less capable hands, but Henderson plays it perfectly.
Throwing a spanner in the works of Don and Shirley’s relationship is formidable squash player Ken Blake (Nick Mothershaw), a rich businessman who continually looks down his nose at Don and Shirley for being poorer and more unfit than him. Horvath and Mothershaw’s rivalry is a joy to watch, with Mothershaw’s facial expressions and snarky asides to the audience bringing lots of laughs. Other guests at the spa include octogenarian Gertrude (Jane Robertson) and feisty young student Shaun (Matthew Taylor). Both characters allow Godber to lean into his usual political messages which run through most of his plays – here, the commentary revolves around the NHS and private healthcare, giving an extra layer of meaning to the story.
Bringing some more energy to proceedings are Kat Foxx-Booth and Meg Russell as spa workers Zoe and Chloe. Foxx-Booth bounces around the stage as the upbeat dance instructor, whilst Russell shares some hilarious scenes with Horvath as Chloe prepares Don for his first massage, which naturally gives way to many innuendos. Music, courtesy of Pete Watson and Nikky Rowe, helps to bring these scenes to life, as the cast are put through their paces with some intense exercise routines. A stand-out moment in the show comes at the end of the first act as Don experiences a fever dream, with the cast all becoming caricatures of their characters, and Tom Hammond’s lighting helping to convey the surrealism of the scene.
The set (Alex Libby as stage manager) is split into three sections, making full use of the wide performance space at Strutts Community Centre, with the bar lounge on one side, a garden on the other, and a central space being used for multiple locations including massage parlour, dance studio and squash court. A special mention must also go to Alyson Koe’s programme design, which is presented as a brochure for the health spa, with testimonials from the different characters.
As with most John Godber plays, this show is led by character rather than plot. There are no particular twists in the tale, but the characters are so likeable and well-formed that it doesn’t matter – the audience simply enjoy seeing how these characters react to different situations. As soon as we realise Don is booked in for a massage, we know we are in for a treat in the next scene! If I could offer a small criticism, it would be that some moments feel a little slow, with some lengthy scene transitions and some actors being a little slow on their cues. But that is me being nit-picky. Overall, this is another fantastic production for the Belper Players, and one that is sure to have you in stitches throughout. Make sure you do your stretches beforehand – you might just pull a muscle from laughing too much.
Tom Morley, June 2025
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