Touching the Blue

Written by Alistair Coats | 27 August 2010

Clive Russell stars as Derek Hodges, a snooker player who was world champion at 17, but is considered past his prime by sport pundits and even his disinterested agent. Now an embittered alcoholic with a string of divorces, we join Hodges as he takes stock of his life in the dressing room before a big game.

Sipping painfully from a Jack Daniels bottle, Hodges brings the audience with him as he remembers defining moments of his life: the day his potential as a snooker player was spotted as a twelve year old; the day he met his first wife; the day he bought his mum a house. He laments the professionalisation of snooker that left behind the days of world class players getting drunk during matches, and the number of boring, toned-buttocked teenagers that make up his competition nowadays.

Russell conveys his character’s worldy frustration well, and creates a pitiable, angry figure with nobody left to help him. Despite Hodges’s relationship failures and alcoholism he still manages to clutch at hope, and storms around the stage with determination to prove himself one last time. Famous snooker players appear on a television to comment on Hodges’s snooker ability between scenes, and Leslie Grantham of Eastenders cameos as Hodges’ old competitor; a relationship that has weighed on Hodges’ conscience for many years, and precipitates the show’s climax. 

Fans of aging-hero-with-one-last-shot stories like The Wrestler and Crazy Heart should find a safe and familiar tale here, but one that is not as emotionally engaging as those films.

Assembly @ George St, 5-29 Aug (not 16), 3.30pm