Mr Droos and Mr Shysten

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 4

Mr Droos and Mr Shysten

A play which seems to have a diverting theme, “Pay As You Go” is on Monday night's programme in the “Thirty Minute Theatre” series. “I’ve washed up the supper things . . . there’s half a rabbit pie in the oven ... the

ironing’s in the airing cupboard , . . defrost the refrigerator once a fortnight . . . the clock’s five minutes fast . . .” Those and a few more lastminute instructions, according to Annie, are the sum total of the knowledge and experience of 15 years of married life which is why she is leaving her husband Mr Dross. She has already been through the house sorting out souvenirs and knick knacks that are specifically hers as opposed to “yours” or “ours” but still Mr Dross stays glued to his television and is only vaguely disturbed by the unusual goings-on.

Annie’s lover is Mr Shyster who arrives with a huge and menacing dog. His stream of salesman’s patter so overwhelms and confuses Mr Dross that he finds himself buying and subscribing to all sorts of pictures and records he never wanted. Mr Shyster is boisterous but also a little anxious about taking on Annie yet even here Mr Dross who gave up "trying to get the drift of her years and years ago” is too bemused to realise he is being offered a chance to get her back. Annie and Mr Shyster depart leaving Mr Dross with the terrifying dog, the records, and his television. Sarah Lawson plays Annie, Norman Rossington appears as Mr Dross, and Brian Wilde is Shyster.