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Tea and toast with a
helping of laughs
Dinnerladies: Second Helpings The
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ***
FOR those established fans of the TV show ‘dinner ladies’ the stage
adaptation works very well and for fans of comedy theatre it stands on
its own merits. Victoria Wood’s own brand of writing captures the
funny side of life in often poignant everyday situations. Set in a northern factory, all
scenes take place in the canteen. Tony (Andrew Dunn) the canteen
manager, just recovered from illness wants to make a new start with Bren
(Laura Sheppard) in the Highlands but Bren has cold feet about starting
all over without her support network of friends and colleagues. Fate brings the opportunity of
a change of fortune through a game show. Henry Kelly puts in a
surprise appearance as the show host through a good use of technology.
Unfortunately , Petula (Sue Devaney) passes away and Bren is unable to
return to the show final where she stood to win a life-changing £10,000.
Hopes of a new start are dashed. Meanwhile, news is received
that the deal with a foreign company has fallen through, the canteen is
to be closed and all staff are to be made redundant. However, by a
strange twist of fate, Petula facilitates a new start for everyone when
she reveals, through her Living Will, the contents of the green bin bag.
Once those of us familiar with
the show stopped comparing performances, it is evident that Wood’s
characterisations are so very well observed and written that the
characters live on whoever delivers the lines. Having said that, there were
splendid performances by each member of the cast but the show stealer
for me was Devaney playing Bren’s caravan-dwelling, wayward mother who
openly admits that all she gained from motherhood was 40 years of
disinterest in her child. Only Wood’s own particular wit means that she
can get away with topics which would seem rather crass if written by
others. If you think about the show it
reflects on the changing times and fortunes in industry, the reliance of
British industry on overseas financial backing and support and how this
impacts on the workforce; how restructuring affects the everyday person
and how livelihoods and lifestyles are affected by these changes.
If you don’t want to think too hard about it it’s just a jolly good
laugh. Overall a good time was had by
all, including the performers, with many laugh out loud moments. The
cast took a bow to hearty appreciation. To 23-07-11 Lynda Ford
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