'Close cleaning' might be a confusing term to those unfamiliar with the Glasgow vernacular. It refers to the cleaning of the common stairwell, or close, in tenement buildings. In the case of the Eager Beaver Cleaners, it does not refer to a penchant for detailed or scrupulous cleaning; work, of any description, takes second place to male bonding, drinking, talking dirty and simulating sex. They do this a lot.
The Eager Beaver Cleaning Company is about to be inspected by the council in response to a number of complaints (hysterically detailed in the programme) from residents about one of the foursome. Jock, Crawford, Boab and Brian are four likely lads who prefer to chew the fat than clean it up. Think River City (Glasgow’s version of Eastenders) meets Benny Hill and that will help you decide whether this is for you.
Jock is in charge and trying to balance banter with his mates against his team's cleaning obligations. Crawford is 'The Dad you never wanted', full of bright ideas, hopeless suggestions and bawdy humour. Boab is the team's lothario, bedding women as fast as he can roller blade, while Brian has been to university and is trying to make it both as an actor and as suitor for the local barmaid. After a bit of a stilted start, all four actors relax a bit into their roles and bond together with superb chemistry. John Stuart and Joe Cassidy give stronger performances, comfortable in their own skin as much as the beaver's, whereas the bemusing part of the gay guy upstairs is unrealistic and incomprehensible.
There are some strong, albeit stereotypical, female roles. The boss of the company - 'the Beaver' - is all high heels, red lipstick and cheap lining hanging down. Leah Moorhouse plays her with venom and sympathy - who would want to be in charge of that gang? Jennifer McErlane appears at ease in her understated role as the barmaid and over-the-top as the nervous Inspector on the edge of a breakdown. Vivien Taylor plays her part in pink lounge suit with gusto rather than malice but her title - ‘Jobless Bitch’ - says more about the male attitudes than her character, which could also explain a joke near the end; Rape isn't funny no matter how it's dressed up.
John Stuart's writing is well observed (of particular men who like to talk like this) and near to the bone. Literally. This is sexist, callous, Glasgow (male) humour, that is not for the faint hearted. The themes of bongs, sperm, dildos and sex - mostly sex - won't appeal to everyone but despite a few sharp intakes of breath and pursed lips, some of the audience laughed out loud all the way through.
