'If The Shoe Fits' by Donna Lesley Price

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Directed by Richie Grice

'If The Shoe Fits' is a play of high impact. It is very funny due to the interaction of the characters with some hilarious situations and to cap it all numerous witty and laugh out loud lines.. Not only this it also has some very touching moments and if at times the action gets farcical (deliberately), the play has reality and a warm heart. It is full of funny, delightful characters with whom we laugh but also they are believable and we easily share their hopes, fears and disappointments.

The play never stays still for long, if the characters are tearful for a moment they soon bounce back with as much feistiness and humour as ever. However outrageous the plot, it could happen and the vivid characterisation ensures the play has pizzazz, reality and high entertainment value.

This was a very vivid and memorable production because it was directed and played with so much speed and confidence. The many contrasting aspects of the play were skilfully brought together in the production. The broadness of the situations was balanced by the subtlety of some of the relationships and the farcical comedy was contrasted by the pathos of some of the characters' confessions. The play had tremendous pace but this rightly varied and there were some lovely slow telling moments. There was plenty of action and the physical comedy was well choreographed and played. The whole show was brought together with a completeness that ensured the audience had a good time - lots of laughter, some moments of pathos and time spent with entertaining and warm characters.

This was a well cast production with all the cast giving confident performances to match the exuberance of the writing. They all looked right for their roles and acted with a uniformity that showed all were committed to the play and to the aims of both the playwright and the director. There was strong characterisation, smooth picking up of cues, variety of pace in the dialogue with some expert physical comedy playing. Visually the whole production matched up to the vibrancy of the play and was a lesson on achieving all that is required with the simplest of means.

This was a riotous comedy that had the audience in stitches. It was played at great speed with confidence by a strong acting team and the gales of laughter ensured that this play won the 'Ray Kingsley Award' for Best Comedy despite some tough competiton.

 

'Bon Voyage' Review


Bon Voyage will strike a chord with Scousers everywhere, especially those who like shows that do what they say on the poster.

The famous Mrs Brown epics from Irish comic Brendan O’Carroll at the Royal Court and, more recently Dave Kirby’s Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels have shown from audience response that there is a place in local theatre for all tastes.

This comedy, originally called Rocky’s Last Round, did its apprenticeship in community theatres.

Now its two writers Richie Grice and Paul Nicholson, offer a dialogue-strong funeral farce.

Rocky is dead, having drowned in a vat of ale on a brewery tour (although he did get out twice to go to the toilet.)

His family bermoan the loss with streetwise observations, especially from one particularly acidic member of the clan.

Daughter Lisa is joined by three of Rocky’s pals, each squeezing the script for every lucid one-liner.

In the ten-strong cast, there’s some characters that would not look out of place in TV’s Shameless.

There’s a track-suited drunk aptly tagged Plonk; a Mr Deluded Smoothie named Dazzler, and a smart-suited moaner called Bumper.

You will find characters like these in virtually every pub in virtually every city.

There are some good sight gags too, especially a flower tribute on the coffin. It has to be seen to be believed. I swear.

The two hour comedy is littered with foul language as tempers flare up and the alcohol begins to set in.

Al T. Kossy’s Archie, a grumpy old git, is the main focus, while dependable actress Lindzi Germain, one of our hardest-working local stars, relishes being OTT – this time as black widow Maggie.

This show won’t be making any appearance soon on the school curriculum – and, happily, that’s its appeal.