Miss Hope Springs

 

Review by Paul Towers, 25/2/23

Miss Hope Springs, written, performed & directed by Ty Jeffries

At Grantham Guildhall on Saturday 25^th February 2023

“You are guaranteed to be laughing for the entire evening”

Fuelled primarily by a lethal combination of Red Bull and Prozac Miss Hope Springs, recovering Vegas showgirl, is reduced to touring her melange of past hits to pay her coke dealer. Many of her most memorable hits are from her scandalously unreleased LP, Je m’appelle Hope.

Hope staggers onto the stage, seemingly bewildered at being back in a spotlight at the back end of beyond (Grantham, Lincs actually) and proceeds to use her audience as a therapy session.

In between songs from her past she entertains us with scandalous stories of her exploits across Europe and America. Her many lovers (and those that got away) are detailed as excuses for her excesses. From a seedy club in le Pigalle to Vegas she finally comes to rest in Dungeness with a husband who has eyes for another.

As Miss Hope Springs Ty Jeffries has created a character that veers from outrageous scandal to real pathos. The original songs (written by Jeffries) are interwoven with patter that is even more hilarious. This is a show for the broadminded. You are guaranteed to be laughing for the entire evening.

Check the website for upcoming appearances.

www.misshopesprings.com/

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 

Diana, The Untold and Untrue Story

Review by Paul Towers, 10/2/23

Diana, The Untold and Untrue Story

Created and performed by Linus Karp

Produced by Awkward Productions

At Nonsuch Studios, Nottingham 10-11 February 2023 and then touring

“often scurrilous but always hilarious”

Actually not everything is untrue, just much of it.

Lady Diana, the People’s Princess is, in the mind of Linus Karp, in Heaven (the celestial afterlife, not the nightclub) and is here to tell HER truth (where have we heard that before?) about her life.

A shy virgin, she convinced herself that marriage to grumpy Charles would make her happy. As we know, it didn’t.

Using a whole range of multi media and a cast drawn (usually willingly) from the audience, Karp relates Diana’s fantasy of what should have been.

While often scurrilous but always hilarious, this is an affectionate (mostly) telling of Diana’s often acrimonious relationship with Charles and the monster that was Camilla.

While this could have been an emotionally draining story to tell Karp and his cohorts (Joseph and a cast of technical geniuses and a wonderful Olivia Coleman doppelganger) had the audience in stitches from the off.

Diana, The Untold and Untrue Story continues to tour. Tickets are available from www.linktr.ee/untruediana

https://www.facebook.com/AwkwardProds/

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

Stepping Out

 

Review by Paul Towers, 7/2/23

Stepping Out by Richard Harris

Directed by Julie Easter

Produced by Festival Players

At Loughborough Town Hall until Friday 10^th February 2023

“Feel-good fun”

Stepping Out is one of those shows that lends itself to amateur players. It is an all-female cast with just one male character. Set in North London (the original location which the film with Liza Minelli transposed to New York) it is the story of seven women who, for various reasons, escape each week to a tap dancing class led by failed showgirl Mavis.

Author Richard Harris (not that one) is a prolific playwright and TV writer and has crafted an affectionate look at those lonely people (in this case women) who gather each week to escape from their dreary lives. Each of the characters has a story to tell. It is only when Mavis gets invited to submit a routine for a showcase that the entire group realise that they have talent.

In the finale the troupe tap their hearts out very professionally. Which makes the choreography of their frankly abysmal dancing in the beginning all the more remarkable. As has been said of Les Dawson’s out of tune piano playing, you have to be very good to play/dance very badly.

This is a show that is full of stand out funny one-liners and some excellent physical clowning.

Director Julie Easter has produced a great ensemble show that will resonate with every slightly bored housewife.

Stepping Out is at Loughborough Town Hall until Friday 10^th February.

 

www.festivalplayers.com

www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk