Mimi (Natalie Haverstock) lives comfortably, mistress of her own home. It's a perfect world, shattered by the arrival of unwelcome guest Howard (Philip Lawrence). Not that Howard is rude, although his bottom smells and he will tear up tissues for no reason. On the contrary, he tries hard to be friendly. But for elegant Mimi, his arrival is unwelcome, and the idea that he might be here for good is - appalling.

The home belongs to Jane, and lover Nick is moving in. With the home comes Mimi, a cat. And with Nick, a dog named Howard. Jane and Nick, their wedding, and later their baby Sam are never seen. Sometimes they are heard in voice-over. Sam's arrival is heard, piercingly, in scream-over. Howard's castration seems inevitable, and Mimi's jealous reaction to baby Sam - protest as she might that she really wasn't trying to smother him - likely. How will they cope? Will they ever get on? Will one of them - or both - have to escape?

Howard & Mimi is a gentle, funny and sweet-natured (with barbs) look at the human, feline and canine condition. The idea of 50 minutes of drama between a dog and a cat sounds like hell, and in less capable paws would be. But Howard & Mimi is special, and the acting exact to a clever script. Philip Lawrence's Howard is by turns appealing, gruff, silly and enthusiastic; Natalie Haverstock's Mimi conjures up cat-ness with nuances which are sometimes delicate, vulnerable, forceful.

John Kay Steel's direction keeps the script on the rails, and the relationship between the competing characters tight. Jo Kennedy's set is simple and right for the job, enabling the characters to display their territory and the twists of intimacy in their relationship convincingly. The story is sharp and sentimental (tissues needed, though Howard's probably torn them up). Beneath the dog-and-cat story, there's a profound look at the nature of life, its vicissitudes, and what can make it bearable - also at what the real nature of happiness might be. Caroline Gold's gorgeous script, with its sparkling dialogue and thoughtful plotting, is a magical theatrical delight - thanks to Philip Lawrence's dogging and Natalie Haverstock's pussy.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Natalie Haverstock - Mimi. Philip Lawrence - Howard.

Company Credits: Writer - Caroline Gold. Director - John Kay Steel. Designer - Jo Kennedy. Music by - Jason Read. Vocalist - Jayne Hardy. Technical Operator - Nicola Morris. Producer - uncredited. Company - Haverstock And Gold (www.haverstockandgold.co.uk) in association with Antenna Productions (www.antennaproductions.com). Website - www.howardandmimi.co.uk. Website Production Photographer - Saskia Willis. Thanks to: Soho Theatre, Power Fish, Hayden Judd, Billy Payn, Burrell's Wharf, Departure Arts Centre Limehouse, The Ministry of Fun sound studios, Photographers Katie Kotting (www.imageforlife.co.uk), Blythwood Vetinary Practice, Lea Gold, Dupliquick Printers Edinburgh, Zosia Bell, Godfrey Old.

END

John Park

reviewed Monday 21 April 08 / Soho Theatre

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008