"An impressive little show full of delicious lines and underplayed humour." Nione Meakin reviews Toby Williams' twisted doctor creation.
What a neat and enjoyable hour this is. A tightly-scripted and impeccably performed comedy play, Toby Williams’ comic character finally comes into his own in a tale of medical mispractice, warring academics and long-suffering friends. The show begins like pleasant Radio 4 fare but soon degenerates into something more hilarious as Williams reveals the true character of Ryegold, a dubious doctor with a quick wit, a fine but filthy mind and a disregard both manners and personal hygiene.
Suspended from practicing yet again, Ryegold finds himself at a loose end and divides his days between loitering in the local café, abusing his pal Canning and attempting to win back old flame Penny, a headteacher with whom he enjoys a fractious relationship. He drinks Benylin, ponders the ethics of taking a patient on a date and counsels the malingering PE teacher from Penny’s school before being roused from this unambitious existence by the appearance of an old medical school foe (brilliantly captured by Milo McCabe).
Ryegold is a stand-out comic character – a compelling blend of charm and charmlessness who can deliver entirely inappropriate sex education classes and use his flatmate’s shirt to mop up curry without ever losing the audience’s affection.
The supporting cast are also excellent and particularly McCabe, whose abilities as a comic actor shine when given some good writing. While there are a few implausible details that occasionally distract – why are all these doctors hanging about in a school? Would smart professionals like Penny really frequent a greasy spoon? – this is an impressive little show full of delicious lines and underplayed humour. George Ryegold is an eminently watchable character and this surely bodes well for his future development.
Nione Meakin
George Ryegold's God-In-A-Bag is at the Underbelly at 1:45pm until 27th August
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