The Lady in the Van - review

Maggie Smith takes on the role of Miss Shepherd ‘The Lady in the Van’ in an adaptation of Alan Bennett’s novel based on a true event.

When playwright Alan Bennett moves into a quiet street in Camden, he’s intrigued when Miss Shepherd takes it in turns to park her van outside resident’s houses and when it comes to his turn, he’s already taken on concern for Miss Shepherd. Ensuring she’s ok every time he cycles past, she takes the liberty of naming him to a social worker and regularly uses his toilet when he’s at home.

As time goes by she informs him that it would be easier for her to move onto a driveway rather than staying on the road due to parking regulations and reluctantly Alan agrees for her to move onto his driveway temporarily.

Jump forward 15 years and Miss Shepherd is still living there with the two of them having become quite friendly, although she berates him about the number of men entering and leaving the house as he explores relationships. Alan has also learnt more about the lady Miss Shepherd is and discovers she is a former nun and concert pianist who has a living brother, although she doesn’t talk about him.

With Alan directing and starring in plays in the West End, Miss Shepherd keeps herself to herself and lives her life as she sees fit, but when she requires extra help and is taken to a day centre, it’s then that Alan realises he quite misses his friend on the driveway even with all her faults.

When Miss Shepherd returns to her van after leaving the day centre, Alan shares with her his discoveries about her life and is upset the next day when he discovers that she has passed away, but is also quietly relieved that he is able to move her van and surrounding rubbish from his driveway once and for all.

With a cameo from Alan Bennett himself, this charming tale of a relationship which developed over 15 years despite starting off reluctantly, was a joy to watch and I feel inclined to now learn more about Miss Shepherd.