Act One, Scene Two 

Pg 25 – Francis - "washboard," "Skiffle," "Beatles," etc.

Visit Music and especially Britain: April, 1963 to understand the full context of this mini-monologue, and to understand why so many washboard players found themselves kicked out of bands once the Beatles broke in early 1963. I'm assuming you're reasonably familiar with the Beatles, John Lennon, etc., but if not, let me know and I'll fill you in.

 

Pg 25 – Francis - "lairy"

According to the always humorous "Urban Dictionary," to be "lairy" is be overly aggressive, looking for a fight, etc.

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Pg 25 – Francis - "busking"

Street performances trying to earn money via tips. Francis is saying he was attempting the old "one man band" act.

 

Pg 27 – Stanley - "keep a fag's eye"

Although this script does deal with discrimination (state sponsored and otherwise) against the LGBTQ community and the role of Brighton in LGBTQ history, this line in this context has nothing to do with that. A "fag" (or bundle of sticks) was/is a slang term for a cigarette. In this context, Stanley is asking Francis to watch the trunk for the length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette (i.e., "can you watch this for a couple of minutes?")
 

Pg 27 – Stanely - "half a crown"

2 shillings, 6 pence. Enough in 1963 rates, it seems, for a meal. Incidentally, as seen on page 26, this is slightly less than half the rate of the cab ride, which was "5 (shillings) and 6 (pence)." According to these now outdated currency models, 12 pence made a shilling (a.k.a, a "bob"), 5 shillings made a crown, and 20 shillings (4 crowns) made a pound (£1). Thus, 1 pound = 240 pence. Confused? Don't worry -- just know that half-a-crown was just enough to pick up a dinner at the pub.
 

Pg 28 – Stanley - "I need, what they call in the guards, a batman"

A "batman" is a personal servant/steward of a military officer--sometimes of lower rank, though often--when serving in foreign locations--a local civilian employed for their services and knowledge of the area. 

 

Pg 34 – Alan - "Angry Young Men"

This is a reference to a theatre movement among young British playwrights in the late 50s and early 60s dubbed by some critics (but rarely the playwrights themselves) as a movement of "angry young men." Their plays tended to focus on contemporary social issues facing young males, featured violence, sex, vulgarity, and often a mix of long monologues with bursts of action and shock, and generally painted a bleak future for the lead characters. Largely remembered for John Osborne's seminal work, "Look Back in Anger," which, chances are, Alan would have loved. 

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Pg 36 – Stanley - “Bugger the dolphin”

Masturbate.

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Pg 36 – Stanley/Francis  - "Boarding school"

I have been trying to find information as to whether Francis is referring to a historical event that made papers in his reference to rape, or if he's speaking in a more generalized term regarding stereotypes of boarding houses. Either way -- a bit of an unsettling line as a "joke."

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Pg 40 – Charles/Francis - "Bangers and Mash"

Sausages and mashed potatoes--an extremely common British dish

 

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