Richmond Theatre 20 – 25 March, national tour to September. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
If you’re looking for a night of belly laughs and life-affirming joy, Shirley Valentine is the show for you.
Glen Walford’s revival of Willy Russell’s one woman play gives Jodie Prenger the chance to show her full acting chops, and reminds us how brilliantly Russell writes female characters. Watching a middle-aged woman talk to her kitchen wall may not sound like entertainment, but Shirley draws you quickly into her world, and you won’t want to leave.
Trapped in a dull routine in a stale marriage, Shirley always thought she’d leave Joe after their children had grown up, but has nowhere to go. Instead she soldiers on, making sure his meals are on the table when he comes home, drinking wine and wondering what happened to the girl she used to be, Shirley Valentine. When her only friend buys her a holiday Greece, Shirley is excited and terrified, knowing that she can’t go, but dreaming of sitting at the water’s edge. After an incident with a plate of chips and egg, her mind is made up. When she gets to Greece, she finds a new confidante, a rock, has a holiday fling and decides to change her life.
The 1980’s kitchen set of the first act and Prenger’s frumpy costumes (her travelling outfit is brilliant – reminding you of the days when your mother used to put on her best to go into town) make way for a dreamlike beach, softly lit, and Prenger looks about 10 years younger. That’s what a decent holiday can do for you.
Russell’s fantastically funny and emotional script is delivered gutsily by Prenger. Her broad physical comedy skills are perfect for Shirley’s imaginary confrontations with Joe, and her imitations of neighbours and family are a hoot. Prenger exudes warmth and charm, making Shirley familiar and instantly recognisable. As Shirley talks about her children (I had forgotten all about that hysterical nativity play story!) and her early life with Joe, her love for her family shines through, but also her frustration with their dependence and taking her for granted. Prenger’s quiet moments as Shirley sits and despairs at her life are lovely to watch, all followed by a visible pulling herself together as Shirley herself says, she’s nothing special, but Shirley Valentine still has the power to inspire and enchant. There were outbursts of spontaneous applause as she made brave decisions and when she announced that Christopher Columbus had made his voyage of discovery, the theatre erupted. What makes this special though, is that Shirley doesn’t blame her husband. He gets a lot of stick, but this isn’t a man-bashing diatribe. The acknowledgement that he is as lost as her, and her gentle hope for the future as she waits in the sunset for him, ends the show on an emotional high that carries you out of the theatre smiling (and craving chips and egg).
A wonderful feel-good revival of a brilliant play – get a ticket while you can.