Chris Eldon Lee reviews ‘The Last of the Red Hot Lovers’, which is at Shrewsbury’s Wightman Theatre until Saturday 24th October.
What a lovely surprise!
Tucked away, just a few steps from The Square, is Shrewsbury’s newest performance space. The Wightman Theatre (in the old Temperance Hall right next door to Carluccio’s) has the feel of a favourite Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue. An open, square stage sits in the middle of a high ceilinged room, with black drapes all around to create excellent acoustics. Just walking in, the excitement and potential is palpable.
It is home to the revived Marches Theatre Company and their premiere production is a highly professional and hugely entertaining production of Neil Simon’s 1970s Broadway success.
The ‘Red Hot Lover’ in question is 47-year-old Lithuanian/American Barney who feels his sex life is passing him by and tries forlornly to do something about it; three times. Nigel Peever is absolutely excellent in the pivotal comedy role, playing his hopelessly nervous character like a Mr Bean with verbal diarrhoea. With a briefcase full of booze and a disastrous disposition, you just know that all three of his dates are going to leave his mother’s apartment with their reputations intact. The long soliloquy about his sorry life so far is a fine piece of theatre.
His three would-be women are played in turn by the remarkably versatile Victoria May. It’s a lovely study in body language character acting. In Act 1, Elaine is a super observant, sensual seductress, just waiting to get down to business. Victoria returns in Act 2 as a goofy, gullible chorus girl – with more than a touch of paranoia. Neil Simon has her lighting a spliff, which cleverly opens up the acting possibilities for both characters. And in Act 3 she is the demure, no-sex-under-any-circumstances Jeanette; the best friend of Barney’s wife, clutching her handbag to her bosom as a barrier to his advances. The characters are great fun to get to grips with and Miss May does an admirable job.
The director at the birth of this new venture is Jonathan Cross, who was present at the inception of Shropshire’s Pentabus 40 years ago. He handles the crisp, incisive, comedy masterfully…setting up the punch lines for his cast to deliver with gusto. Some fly by…but most hit home to great effect.
Both company and venue have hit the ground running. Shrewsbury has been crying out for a theatre like this and now we have it. They deserved their standing ovation and their five stars review. They also deserve to succeed; so wrap up warm and go along.
Next up is ‘Neville’s Island’ in November.
Tickets : 01743 290 701 or on the door
www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Shrewsbury/The-Wightman/