Riverside Studios, London – until Saturday 18th January 2025
Reviewed by Alec Legge
5*****
The stage is set as an attic bedroom belonging to Kevin, a 40 year old gay man who has returned to his mum’s home after living in London where he was an aspiring comic who never made it. Kevin is played wonderfully by Steven Webb who fits the pert like a glove.. The time period is 2020 during lockdown and Kevin is living on his own in the bedroom which is just as he left it many years before, with posters of Dolly on the walls and and scattered with items from his youth.
Kevin appears via a ladder through a window as he is unable to mix with his mum and dad downstairs. This is followed by Kevin hilariously introducing himself to the audience and moving about the stage in a high camp manner. Then Kevin receives a phone call from his lover breaking off their relationship which sends him into a ‘slough of despond’.
This is the point where ‘Dolly Parton’, played by Tricia Paoluccio, materialises onto the scene coming out of a life size poster with a bang and a cloud of smoke! What an entrance! Then she sets about trying to raise Kevin’s spirits and getting him to believe in himself again. This includes repartee between the characters, Dolly’s songs ably backed up by the musicians and back up singers, Miss Paolucci’s performing as Dolly Parton is superb, she is Dolly, she has the voice to a ‘T’ and all of Dolly’s mannerisms. It really is uncanny. If you closed your eyes you could well believe it was Dolly herself on stage!
The performance of Steven Webb and Tricia Paolucci were well beyond first class and I can only repeat what I was told by an audience member’ that she thought it was the best musical show she had ever seen’/
Not to give away the plot ending it is a happy ending for Kevin with a joyous twist at the end.
There was an excellent, barnstorming, finale and as a bonus extra the whole cast gave a rousing medley of Christmas songs. A wonderful ending to a show that was really appreciated by the audience and will stay in our memories for a very long time.
I can really recommend this show to all and sundry, not just fans of Dolly Parton, and I can assure everyone of a 5 star, show full of comedy, pathos, Dolly’s wonderful songs and a heartwarming ending with a stupendous finale to finish it off. What more could anyone want of a theatre visit.