Funny Women brought impressionist Jan Ravens to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond on Sunday – the theatre, which opened in 1971 has been entertaining loyal followers for years with its alternative shows and can boast the only theatre “in a round” in London. Far from giving the performers neck-ache, the layout creates a unique and intimate connection between performer and the audience, although the performer could feel an edge of vulnerability at times, like a gladiator on show, as running to the wings is not an option.
Host Carrie Quinlan, of BBC’s Radio 4’s News Quiz, certainly felt at home in the setting, moving nimbly around the stage (must be her classical training..) she created a great atmosphere early on, – grazing healthily on the stereotypes of Richmond, she never offensively projectile-vomited the contents around the auditorium.
The glamorous and effortlessly charming Elizabeth Mee kicked off the proceedings and the crowd warmed to her instantly, emitting a sigh of disappointment when she announced she had to go. One of my favourite gags of the evening: “I’ve always found Tony Blair a little smug.. and a snob.. with a silent s.”
Character double-act Morris and Vyse are a delight to watch – the interplay between the two as the crass and insensitive daytime TV presenters, is brilliantly executed, with every arched eyebrow and inebriated wobble so well-crafted, I’m left believing that one of them really is married to Rick Astley or at the very least, that there’s an arguably sensible case for recycling sanitary towels into a pair of slippers. The act appeared later in another guise, as the Robin Gibb and the late Maurice Gibb, formerly of The Bee Gees – pioneering on a solo career, Robin is haunted by the jibing ghost of Maurice – “at least I’m alive” sings Robin, to the tune of, ‘Stayin’ Alive’, of course.
Charlie Covell’s style is always captivating to watch, her sidelong glances and expressions complement some hilarious material – including a run-in with a Big Issue seller who mistook her for a boy. Particularly funny is her attitude to her former precocious self – phoning her dad from boarding school to tell him she’d sent him The Communist Manifesto (while reversing the charges of course) and the ruminations of her tortured, teenage soul, revealed in such poetic gems as ‘Broken Wing’, which the audience can clearly relate to through hysterical tears of recognition.
Funny Women Winner 2008 Katherine Ryan has got great new material from her experiences of having a baby, delivered with her signature acerbic naivety (the lines that is, not her baby – ho ho!). Her older gags still have me roaring with laughter though, especially the one about her husband ruining her enjoyment of watching TV, as he recalls all the actresses he “banged” in Hollywood – “honey, you’re really ruining this episode of ‘The Golden Girls’ for me.”
Jo Selby did a superb turn as her Russian stand-up character Tatiana Ostrakova, fresh from Jongleurs Minsk, she plays the character beautifully as she parodies a clunky and prescriptive way of delivering jokes, announcing – “and now I will tell a joke” – with a demeanour that turns from warm and slightly submissive to defensive and spiky pretty quickly.
Impressionist, and Funny Women 2009 runner-up, Eve Webster showed off her talents, impersonating everyone from Joanna Lumley, a sure-winner for the upcoming election, Cheryl Cole and Gwyneth Paltrow with the audience’s favourite line – defending her decision to name her baby ‘Apple’ – “it’s not like we called her shithouse.”
Despite many alternative and different performances throughout the years, I doubt that the walls of the theatre have ever been subjected to the sound of 200 audience members impersonating the painfully drawn out vowels and consonants of Janet Street-Porter but then the attendees probably never thought they’d be participating in an interactive workshop with Jan Ravens. Stand-up, impersonator and now teacher, Ravens’ gags early on in the show mocked the residents of Richmond, inspired by, no doubt, true outrageous horror-filled tales from the local press – “our recycling hasn’t been collected for a week!”
Her style was perfect for chivvying the audience into reciting a Janet Street Porter slogan: “When I leave my home I exercise my right to roam.” Not that much chivvying had to be done, by this point she’d made the room as warm and inviting as a marshmallow fondue and could have had the residents of Richmond parading around in dog collars. With all the encouraging charm of your first primary school teacher, she even got a collective crow impersonation out of the audience through her helpful tip that to really get to grips with a character it helps to envision them as an animal, so we happily and collectively mocked Anne Robinson.
Alongside brilliant observations of gangland matriarch Jacqui Smith “yeah, so I claimed it on expenses, what ya gonna do ’bout it?” and her other favourite female politicians of choice Hazel Blears and Harriet Harman, she suitably left the cherry on the voluptous cake last with a brilliant portrayal of what Nigella Lawson could do for the tax-return department if she got tired of making cooking sexy. Oh how much quicker we would fill out and return those tedious forms if we had her at the helm, teasingly separating out that wad of depressing paper, “ticking every box until the taxman is completely satisfied.”
The Orange Tree Theatre gig was held in support of the charitable trust the New Victoria Medical Foundation, which provides life enhancing medical support for those in most need. Funds raised on the night will help to provide support, counseling and complementary therapies to those affected by breast cancer.
Next show
Valentine’s Day Special - Sunday 14th February 2010
Valentine’s Day Special hosted by dating guru, Deborah Frances-White who will tell you anything you ever wanted to know about getting a date and featuring Suzy Bennett, winner of the Funny Women Awards in 2006, and Andi Osho, winner 2007, plus more music and comedy mayhem from Helen Arney, Claire Burlington, Hannah Isherwood, Sarah Pearce, Roanna Bond, Kitty Kavanagh and Fordham & Pilkington.
Tickets: full price £12.50, or £10 if you are on our mailing list. BOOK NOW or call 0844 847 2475
The Basement Studio, Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX
Doors 7.00 p.m. for show 7.30 p.m.
beccahutson
1 month, 1 week ago
Snob with a silent S? Quite brilliant! Sounds like it was a great night, looking forward to more Funny Women gigs this year!