I first encountered this show while it was in development in 2013, touring Western Canada. At the time, there was an unevenness to the writing, but the gem that was beneath it was apparent. Fast forward 13 years and Southwark Playhouse’s brilliant production has reaped the benefits of the dramaturgical work and rewrites. Where Ricky Potts felt confusing before, he now makes perfect sense. Where Constance’s song previously felt weak compared to her monologue, it now feels like a logical extension.
This production sizzles; each of the cast are exceptional — underscored by the fact that I saw two swings in role, and didn’t realise until after! The choreography is clever and playful, progressing the story, and the direction is strong. The one challenge is the space — Southwark Elephant is a long thrust, making height a great choice (positioning Davina DeCampo as The Great Karnak atop the proscenium was brilliant) however the width of the space meant that some of the design choices were lost for those along the sides. Projections on the back wall, or lighting coming out of it….indeed the trick of Jane Doe’s song was surely lost to a portion of the audience.
The production is silly and fun and brilliantly performed - I highly recommend it, and hope it can transfer to a space where even more can feel the joy.