Edinburgh Playhouse – until 21 April 2018
Reviewed by Linda McLaughlan
4****
A topic every woman (and possibly man) can relate too with a few laughs, tears and love thrown in along the journey to finding the perfect body
A story of how diets are looked at from several different angles, finding the perfect dress, looking for the ideal man to love you or trying to hold onto a broken marriage, those who are trying to loose a few pounds to those who are seeking to make money regardless of the outcome.
The evening begins with a group of YoYo dieters of every shape, size and sex sweating on the stage trying to shed the excess pounds before the next weigh in at Slimming Club. Betty (played by Elaine C. Smith) has been selected as a contender for Slimmer of the Year and is nervous for the big final weigh in after losing 5 stone following the plan, whilst working in the family fish and chip shop “Big and Battered”. The final is being held in the local church hall where Lauren (played by Natalie Anderson) is an ambassador to the success of the plan and what can be achieved because she has done it and a testament to its success (although rather hung up about the 2lb she MUST lose to get back to goal weight), hence the Zumba & Aerobic Classes she also runs in the church hall.
Betty is the front runner to win the final of the contest and is supported by her husband Fegus (played by Kevin Kennedy) and two daughters Kelly (played by Jodie Prenger) and Joanne (played by Rachael Wooding). Kelly and Joanne are two very different in personality and shape with Kelly being the more voluptuous of the two girls having put on a few stone in weight since being with her fiance Kevin (played by Joel Montague). Kelly and Kevin are due to get married in six weeks and Kelly has found her dream dress and is super excited to try this on in her local Bridal Shop which is owed by Lauren……….. only it doesn’t fit!!!
Regardless of this fact Kelly is determined to buy the dress anyway and that she will fit into it on her wedding day…………Even though she truly believes Diets are Crap.
And so the story really takes a turn in all of the lives of the slimmers. Betty doesnt win the final ……. In fact is putting on weight!!! Lauren is desperate for love and finding the perfect man….. even though he is right under her nose in the form of Paul (played by Jonathon Halliwell), but he is a Vicar and not Jewish….. which the family would not approve of. Kevin loses his job and money becomes tight, Fergus is worried about the chip shop business …… going down the pan (the preverbial chip pan) and Kelly begins to believe she will never fit into her dream dress……..then along comes Julia Freshman (played by Natasha Hamilton) who is hungry for success……. In the shape of Kelly bringing in the publicity after she sets her the challenge of losing 2 stone to get into her dress, which she will pay for ….
Infact Julia has agreed on National TV she will pay for the whole wedding ………. but at what cost to Kelly.
The musical score in the movie is lively and funny with a few songs which have the audience in fits of laughter….. my personal favourite being “Chocolate” ….. well who doesn’t love a piece!!! This is definitely a must see for anyone who and everyone…… Kay Mellor has successfully brought her TV sitcom to the stage and it is a huge success