James Graham's adaptation of 'Boys from the Blackstuff,' initially acclaimed in Liverpool and the West End, suffers on tour, particularly noted during its second leg at Richmond Theatre. While the production highlights the struggles of five unemployed Liverpudlian tarmac layers, it sacrifices some emotional depth for fast-paced execution. Originally a BAFTA-winning TV series by Alan Bleasdale, the historic context of mass unemployment remains crucial, yet the adaptation seems to struggle in capturing the essence of the original's poignant commentary on societal neglect.
Although the cast manages to capture the anger (and mania) of unemployment, the production is so fast-paced and busy that the depressing reality, so successfully conveyed in the original TV series, seems to have gotten lost.
Graham takes some liberties with Bleasdale's story, but the play largely follows the original version of Boys from the Blackstuff, maintaining its core struggles while attempting to modernize.
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