Vic Darkwood

Advantages: Funny. Dark. Ayckbourn up to date
Disadvantages: Stunt doubles bit at end is a bit weak

...Man of the Moment was first performed in 1988, transferring to London in 1990, where it starred Michael Gambon as the mild mannered Douglas and Peter Bowles as the wide-boy bank robber Vic. The story follows a visit by Jill, a TV presenter to Vic Parks at his villa in Spain. Vic is a former bank robber who has turned over a new leaf and has carved out a new career as a TV personality. Jill has planned a new series called "Their paths crossed" and has brought Vic together with Douglas. He was the bank clerk who foiled Vic's bank raid. In the raid a beautiful young girl, Nerys, was shot in the face by Vic. Jill tries to get some reaction from Douglas, but is disappointed that he is not jealous of Vic's wealth and success. Trudy, Vic's trophy wife discovers the truth - that all Douglas wanted was to win the girl of his dreams, Nerys... Read review

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Advantages: Great characters and plot
Disadvantages: Some violence

...in Chicago, where most of her novels are based. Apparently a film based on V I Warshawski was released in 1991 starring Kathleen Turner. The plot V I or Vic as she is known to her friends is asked to take part in a reunion basketball match and as a result meets a number of old friends from her childhood spent in a rather lugubrious part of South Chicago. In particular, she becomes involved with the young woman she used to babysit for, Caroline Dijak. Caroline asks Vic to find out who her father is - her mother Louisa is a single parent, now dying, and refuses to tell Caroline who her father is. Following up on a couple of names that Louisa lets slip, Vic's first point of call is the Xerxes Chemical Plant, where Louisa and Caroline's possible father used to work. She finds out the men for whom she is looking left the plant because of illness... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to read, often funny, fantastic tragic ending
Disadvantages: Not for those embroiled in an extra-marital affair

...On the day of Princess Diana's death, failed rock star Vic Mullan spies his best friend's wife's distress as the perfect opportunity for him to comfort her and thus begin an affair. It is against the backdrop of mass grief and incomprehension over Diana that the affair is played out, and it turns out to be much more serious and far-reaching than Vic first envisaged. Vic is not a particularly likeable character. He is idiosyncratic and very funny - even admirable, in his bravery to confront his darker nature and admit to his baser dreams and desires - but he is also selfish, cynical, shallow-hearted, penis-driven, lazy and egotistical. Throughout his affair with Emma, he continues his relationship with ballsy wine-buyer Tess, and carries on as normal with scientist Joe, his so-called best friend. Baddiel is excellent at understanding... Read review

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