The Club

In The Club, friendship and loyalty are forgotten. The characters in this play sneak around behind each other's backs, trying to achieve one thing; they are trying to hold onto their position. They want to replace some members of the Club so that they can start a new and better club, without the interference of "busy-body's". Although Laurie shows loyalty to his team, and Ted shows loyalty to the club, Jock and Gerry are continually stabbing Laurie and Ted in the back.

Gerry, the career administrator, seems to be on everybody's side but he is actually the one who makes the bullets for all the other bunnies to fire. Ted, the Club president, means well but can't help sticking his nose into other people's business. Geoff is the new recruit and could not care less about the game of football. Laurie is the coach of the team and as they are not doing the best, he finds out that at the end of the play that he is going to be sacked. Danny is the captain and long-time club champion of the team. He too is about to get the axe after years of charitable service. And then there is Jock, who is an interfering ex-president. He is also the holder of the Club's longest player record.

 "Ted's going to have to resign soon. He's got

himself into real trouble. I can guarantee

that he won't be around in a month or two."

[Page 17]

 "We're not going to renew Laurie's contract at

the end of the year."

 "We're going to try and not renew his contract

at the end of the year."

[Page 18]

The above quotes show Gerry Cooper, the clever manipulator that he is, in action. First, Gerry talks to Laurie and tells him that Ted will have to resign soon. Laurie is unaware of the fact as to why he will have to resign but he knows that Ted is about to go bankrupt. Gerry leaves Laurie, leaving him thinking that he is safe and that Ted will go.

The second quote shows Ted and Gerry talking. Ted tells Gerry that he does not want Laurie's contract renewed at the end of the year. Gerry agrees with Ted by saying that he will try not to renew it, only after he told Laurie that Ted was going to have to resign. By now, Gerry has convinced Laurie that Ted will be quitting the club. He told Ted that Laurie's contract would not be renewed at the end of the year. Each one thinks that the other character is leaving and that they will stay.

Laurie soon finds out that Gerry wants to buy new players for the team. Laurie does not appreciate how Gerry has organised the team for next year without confiding with him. This can be seen when Laurie says "What's the meaning of starting to plan next year's team without even consulting me first?" [Page 35] Gerry has deliberately gone behind Laurie's back, planning things without consulting him first. Gerry then insists that they sell Danny Rowe. Laurie shows some loyalty and refuses to sell or swap him. He defends Danny; "The only reason I'd want Danny to go is if Danny wanted to go. I don't care if you could swap him for Jesus Christ." [Page 37] This suggests that Laurie really does care for what is best for his team.

Ted realises that he has been played as a fool all along. He finds that Gerry only wanted him out. Gerry had been lying to him from the start. He had stabbed him in the back. "They're forcing me to resign." [Page 57], says Ted to Laurie. He helps Laurie to realise that Gerry is not really who they thought he was. Laurie soon learns what Ted has gone through as he finds out that he too will be discharged.

"(Ted looks at Laurie knowing that Laurie is in fact to be

sacked. He realises that his dismissal is inevitable and

gathers the remnants of his dignity together.)"