Reviewed by Jen Hughes
Epstein Theatre Liverpool – until 19 February 2023
4****
Full credit to Chantelle Nolan (director and producer) for a hilarious, toe curling adaptation of the 80s comedy classic, Rita, Sue and Bob too.
Sue (Jenna Sian O’hara) and the iconic Rita ( Kay Nicholson) the two teenage best friends are represented to perfection. Both become besotted as they embark on a coming of age adventure with the Maggie Thatcher, Tory party hating, married man and lothario Bob (Michael Parr). Sue, vowing not to become pregnant before leaving school, begins to compete for Bob’s affections with Rita playing the same game and eventually succeeding until – in perfect comedic timing – Bob’s wife Michelle (Jessica Ellis) gets wind of his antics after finding a very telltale piece of evidence in his jeans pocket!
Sue’s dad (Jamie Greer), the stereotypical foul mouthed, drunken slob, somewhat akin to a 1980s Shameless‘ Frank Gallagher and his wife, (Crissy Rock) a downtrodden working class mother, have a hostile relationship and short, fiery tempers. Both characters effortlessly rant at anyone they see fit with hilarious results. Their portrayed drunken rants were pitch perfect. The audience cheered, laughed and heckled with a whole host of spectacular expletives to boot.
Full of 80s classic tunes, humour and bare bottoms from the start, this show really is like no other. Not for the easily offended, however there was not a single audience member who looked anything but spectacularly entertained, Memory lane has never been so hilarious !