Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough – until April 20th 2019
Reviewed by Sara Garner
5*****
We are introduced to Martha (Shelly Atkinson) and Brenda Marie (Zara Jayne) in the opening scene of this funny and deeply emotional play. Martha is a devout religious Irish cleaner who has lead a sheltered life and has OCD. She has to do everything in 5’s. Brenda Marie is fanatical about ice dancing and spends a lot of time in her tent in the garden thinking about her dead twin sister Shelly Louise. She is wise beyond her years.
Unbeknown to Martha, Josie (Jemma Churchill) is a shameless dominatrix and has male clients coming to her house for “counselling”. Its her 50th birthday buts she’s not in the mood to celebrate, she too is thinking about Shelly Louise who allegedly died 4 years ago who is always on her mind. She blames herself for the arguments that led to her daughter leaving. Lionel (Eamonn Riley) her most loyal client, loves dressing up in women’s clothes. He decides she must have a party to celebrate. Novice Chinese Elvis impersonator played by Jun Hwang (making his professionals stage debut) provides the entertainment and unintentionally acts as a confidant as the characters face their own demons. He provides the catalyst for transformation.
But there is one more surprise guest, Shelly Louise (Rachel Henley) who arrives at the end of Act 1. We get to know the characters very quickly in this characteristic front room setting which is also set as a cage. This becomes more poignant as the play goes on. The Elvis songs were pertinent for each scene and performed well by Jun throughout.
We see the intertwining relationships develop and the characters pretending to be something they are not, hiding behind the façade that they feel they should play. Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis captures the intricacies of life and the affect the past can play. Given the glimmer of hope and potential that lies in all of us, it shines on the opportunities if only we were brave enough to grasp them.
The rapport that develops between Lionel and Martha and his pursuit of her is amusing throughout culminating in a fantastic laugh out loud scene accompanied by Its Now or Never in the 2nd half.
Written by Charlotte Jones 20 years ago Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis has a good mix of laughter and tragedy that leaves all expect those with a wooden heart smiling and teary eyed that will stay with you long after you have left the building.