The creative team at Upstairs At The Gatehouse seem to have thrown their bag of tricks at this short skit of a play in a bid to distract attention from the script. Allowing drinks in the theatre certainly helps recreate the raucous atmosphere of a Northern night-club's talent contest. Add a lively game of bingo, a well-designed set replicating a scummy backstage dressing area, and a gag-filled prologue from a cheesy compère (director John Plews relishing Opportunity Knocks) and they nearly get away with shielding what turns out to be a terribly thin affair, peppered with one-liners and comic songs, but lacking any drama or fully-fleshed-out characters.

It's set in a time before talent contests became multi-million pound soul-sellers. Writer Victoria Wood (the comedian) perhaps uses her experiences of the circuit in her depiction of the twilight arena of wannabee singers, comedians and magicians occupied by Julie (Stephanie Briggs) and her mate Maureen (Vikki Stone), as the Julie prepares for her unique rendering of the title song from Cabaret in the night's contest.

Blonde-haired and a bit dense - 'I can’t listen if other people are talking to me' - it's actually Maureen who should be in the spotlight, trundling off the impressively seedy set to play piano at the side of the stage, and singing ditties featuring Victoria Wood's trademark turns of phrase: 'She had love bites round her nipple, while I ate Raspberry Ripple - at home.' Looking and sounding like Victoria Wood, Vikki Stone is funny but fails to make the part her own; the rest of the cast battle gamely with Victoria Wood's stereotypes. Stephanie Briggs does the dumb-blonde characterisation very well, Harry Dickman and John Walters play an old-time music hall act with naturalistic aplomb - Harry Dickman is an old pro and looks set to have a ball adding one-liners in the run - and Charlie Carter doubles-up effectively as dim Mel (Julie’s old lover) and a seriously sleazy compère who also knows the lingo for the bingo to make the audience-participation at the start of the second half a hoot.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Stephanie Briggs - Julie. Charlie Carter - Mel, the organist; Max the compère. Harry Dickman - George. Vikki Stone - Maureen. John Walters - Arthur.

Company Credits: Writer - . Director - John Plews. Musical Director - Vikkie Stone. Choreographer - Racky Plews. Designer - Mike Lees. Lighting Designer - Howard Hudson. Magic Consultant - John Lenahan. Assistant Set Designer - Gemma Harris. Assistant Director - Jessica Dawes. Stage Manager - Kathryn Rosendale. Assistant Stage Manager - Julie Scholl. Technician - Simeon Miller. Poster Design - Gemma Harris. Set Construction - Showtime. Set Painter - Reb Desmond. Production Photographer - Peter Davies. Producer - Katie Plews.

END

(c) Jonathan Lovett 2008

reviewed Tuesday 4 March 08 / Upstairs At The Gatehouse

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com