Does what it says on the tin

Girls' Night Out

Alexandra Theatre

****

GIRLS, you will love this show! Definitely a ‘Girls' Night Out' with lots of good tunes, great butts and risqué dialogue. Writer, Dave Simpson's adaptation of Paul Farrah's original idea is a titivating, amusing and sometimes poignant tale.

The show is entertaining, light-hearted, fast-paced and predictable. Most female fantasies are catered for and the show manages to stay on the right side of decency.

The opening was uproarious, with a fairly naked Tony (Ian Sharp) rehearsing his routine. The audience soon calmed down and was very well behaved. On a different day I suspect it could have been riotous throughout.

As for you chaps out there, it's great fun too; unless of course the sight of naked gents' bottoms makes your toes curl, then perhaps you should stay at home.

The band of eight, are well-cast and talented but the boys steal the show. Harry Capehorn is the soon-to-be groom, Pete. Joe Ransom plays the insensitive, ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em', Darren, Ian Sharp plays Tony who seeks some excitement in his life and Mark Willshire is the sensitive, thoughtful and, surprise, surprise, gay Robbie.

TWISTS AND TURNS

This is a tale of life's twists and turns and of love conquering all . . .  but don't let any of that put you off. Mainly it's a jolly good show with some popular clap-along tunes (You Light My Fire, In the Navy, It's a Love Thing) great choreography and tasty eye candy for the ladies.

Jane (Rachel McGuinness) is 8-months pregnant and is soon to marry Pete. Uptight Nicola (Danielle Corlass) is engaged to a bored and boring Tony.

Nicola's big sister Sharon (the outstanding Bethany Turner) is a girl who knows how to have a good time and arranges a Hen Night at the local lap-dancing club.

Tony's mom, Auntie Sue (Amanda Bellamy) comes along too. Little do the girls know that Pete and Tony have joined a strip act and are preparing for the ‘Feast of Flesh' contest in the club where the girls will be partying.

Too much drink on the Hen Night leads to too many truths being uncovered. Meanwhile the boys have secrets of their own. There are break ups and make ups and all's well that ends well; with the exception of poor old Auntie Sue who is cheated once again out of the happiness she has always dreamed of.

I could tell you that the transitions between scenes, though numerous, are well done, that the set is imaginative and Richard Lewis did a great job as director but the boys costumes are far more interesting; especially how easily they're removed.

All I can say is it's far more fun to be a hen than a stag and I am so looking forward to the next Girls' Night Out. To 24-07-10.

Lynda Ford 

 

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