Great wee black comedy from Alan Bleasdale starring such Norn Iron stars as James Ellis and Ray McAnally. As well as Joanne Whalley, Bernard Hill, Elvis Costello, Michael Angelis.

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On New Year’s Eve in [Liverpool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool), Michael becomes the new manager of the Charleston Club, a run-down function hall on an industrial waste ground which, he later discovers, is owned by an organised crime syndicate. He also discovers that the previous manager, MacArthur, in an attempt to spite the hall’s owners, has hired it out to two groups of senior citizens for New Year’s Eve; one group are hardline [Catholics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic) and the other are hardline [Protestants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_in_Ireland), and the entertainment consists of a magician with stage fright, a gay comedian and his boyfriend, a talentless punk band, and a fancy dress competition with a non-existent prize.

The two parties arrive and are joined by another group of senior citizens who are suffering from senile dementia. After discovering MacArthur being tortured in a back room by the hall’s owners, Michael, along with bouncer Bernard and kitchen porter Cheryl, attempts to keep things in order amid the threat of violence in the air.

As the night goes on, however, things start to go wrong; the comedian’s routine is badly received, the magician has to pull out because of the death of his rabbit, and the band’s poor performance prompts the groups to throw missiles at the stage while the band members fight amongst themselves. Meanwhile, things begin to boil over when former [Loyalist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_loyalism) boxer Billy McRacken strangles on-the-run terrorist Norman Donohue to death in a toilet cubicle after Norman makes comments about McRacken’s daughter [“marrying out”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfaith_marriage), and an [Orange Order](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Order) marching band begins playing sectarian tunes, leading to a mass brawl in the toilets and the discovery of Norman’s body. Meanwhile, Michael and Cheryl begin singing “[If You Need Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_Need_Me)” together on stage while Bernard phones the police, who arrive and defuse the situation.

The situation dies down by midnight, and the groups all go their separate ways peacefully. Michael and Cheryl share a kiss, before going back to Cheryl’s house together. The film ends with McRacken phoning his daughter and asking to speak to his son-in-law, before wishing him a happy New Year.

Its free on youtube here [https://youtu.be/10RXqb\_dNM0?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/10RXqb_dNM0?feature=shared)

by FoxesStoat

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