Perfect Days A play by Liz Lochhead Presentation

Perfect Days A play by Liz Lochhead Presentation by Scott, Amy, Jessica and Alex

The setting… l The play is set in Glasgow, all the scenes take place in a large and stylish Merchant City Loft which is the home of the main character Barbs Marshall. l The play is set in the present day, which because of the age of the text would be the later half of the 90’s.

The characters l Barbs Marshall: 39; a Glasgow celebrity hairdresser l Alice Inglis: 44; Barbs’s oldest friend l Sadie Kirkwood: 62; Barbs’s mother l Brendan Boyle: 27 -37; Barbs’s best friend l Davie Marshall: 42; Barbs’s estranged husband l Grant Steele: 26; an attractive stranger

A quick summary… l Barbs Marshall is a celebrity Hairdresser in Glasgow. She is successful, has her own show on local TV, a nice apartment in a trendy of the city, but she is 39 years old and almost deafened by the ticking of her biological clock. To make matters worse, her mother is a nag, her best friend has been keeping her in the dark, and her exhusband has a new girlfriend. Then she meets a 26 year old stranger who seems more than ready to oblige…

Barbs l Barbs Marshall is a very flamboyantly attractive woman in her late 30’s. l As a ‘celebrity’ hairdresser in Glasgow, she does what every stereotypical hairdresser does and talks…and talks. . And does not shut up.

l As well as ranting on and on, she has this habit of saying the most random words, “Chinese!” ”Computers!” l She has a very stereotypical view on marriage in middle age, and the inevitable outcome that “…man in new relationship younger woman…”, despite being married to Davie “twenty two years come November. ”

l Even with her own mother, Sadie, Barbs is still that stereotypically loud-mouthed woman, not caring what she says in front of her own mother, “- I nearly shat a brick. ” l However, she does show that soft side that noone sees very often, “Mum I’m very grateful –”. l She also had that idea that most women have: “… entering my twenties as a grown up married lady…”. And despite her marriage to Davie failing at 29, she had another idea that “…I fancied myself entering my thirties as a swinging single career woman…”

Despite being only 39, Barbs feels that she is getting old too quickly. l This leads to her revealing that she wants to try and get pregnant. l Her oldest friend Alice Inglis thinks that she’s decided to do this “out of the blue”, But Barbs asks “Doesn’t every woman want a pop at pregnancy before her womb goes pear shape? ” Which shows that Barbs has a very stereotypical outlook on life, and that Barbs wants to have a baby soon before she’s too old. l

Alice l Alice is Barbs oldest friend and sister of Davie Marshall, She is mainly there to listen to Barbs complaints and moaning about the fact she doesn’t have a baby. l “What a fucking wanker”

l Alice also shows us a social issue by the fact that she had a son at a very young age and was forced to give him up, and now she is trying to make up for not seeing him. l “I know your mother. ” l “You know my …? Oh you mean you know Alice’’

Sadie l Sadie is Mother to Barbs. She wants Barbs to stay with her estranged Husband, Davie, maybe because she is from a different generation, much like the time of “The Steamie”. A generation which thought that marriage meant forever. l “…You broke that boy’s Heart…”

Brendan l Brendan is Barb’s best friend, a hairdresser, somewhere between the ages of 27 to 37, and is homosexual. l His homosexuality defines him, and he is constantly gossiping. l His strong friendship with Barbs leads him to agree to donate his sperm so Barbs can have her baby

l As he is a stereotype of a gay man his homosexuality becomes a social issue in the course of the play, as when Barbs reveals she is trying to get pregnant with Brendan there are objections from the older generation, specifically her mother Sadie, “Disgusting! That’s what it is. He’s a bloody homosexual!” and ‘’it’s not and never natural’’. l This shows how the older generations were uncomfortable with homosexuality and contrasts with the acceptance of the (slightly) younger generations such as Alice has no problem with Brendan’s sexuality and is supportive of Barb’s attempts to become pregnant with Brendan’s baby.

Davie is the Estranged husband of Barbs and throughout the play he serves to show Barbs reacts to change like when he tells her he has changed and Barbs is pleasantly surprised. l “I’ve turned over a new leaf doll “ l Davie also shows that Barbs expects it to be normal to have a kid before your biological clock is up l “I might decide to have a baby on my own” l

Grant l Grant is Alice’s son, and becomes Barbs’ lover. l He was saving up for a trip round the world when he met Barbs ‘‘So your off round the world as soon as you get the money together’’

l He falls in love with Barbs, but is completely unaware that she is trying to get pregnant with Brendan l He creates a rift between Barbs and Alice, as Barbs cannot believe that Alice never told her about Grant ‘‘She just…all these years. Said Nothing. ’’ and later on as their relationship is revealed Alice insinuates ‘’You just couldn’t see me happy, could you, without you having to take him away from me? ’’