Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine: Menier Chocolate Factory, London
WILLY Russell’s comic masterpieces are joined at the theatrical hip. Both are frequently hilarious studies of working-class women struggling to escape rigid environments.
In Educating Rita we have a chirpy Liverpool hairdresser who breaks out of her restricted world by enrolling in an Open University course.
Laura Dos Santos displays impeccable comic timing as Rita and combines this talent with an understanding of the pathos that lies behind a young woman aching for self-improvement.
The change from the tight-skirted conformist into a thinking young woman is impressively handled. I predict a glowing future for the highly-talented Ms Dos Santos.
Sadly, though, Larry Lamb’s alcoholic – whisky bottles hidden in bookshelves – tutor lacks the bitter cynicism the role demands. There was a need to be more shambolic and he even looked too neat – a boozer like him would usually be a grubby mess.
Jeremy Sams directs tightly and Peter McKintosh’s book-cluttered set is straight from uni.
Shirley Valentine is a monologue by a 42-year-old Liverpool housewife whose attitude to life is transformed by a holiday in Greece.
Meera Syal gives a memorable performance as Shirley alone in her sterile, fitted kitchen. She brings a touching anguish to the role – particularly her worry about how her husband will react (not well) when his usual steak has been given to the dog.
She actually fries eggs and makes chips on stage (a wonderful smell wafts over the audience) as she reflects on marriage: “Like the Middle East… no solution.”
Her transformation comes during the holiday (she just goes, leaving Him behind) and Ms Syal transforms our Shirley, helped by sex with romantic Costas, into a new person.
There are some great comic lines which are delivered with polish. Of typical, complaining English tourists she says: “If they had been at the Last Supper they’d ask for chips!”
Although her accent wanders around the north Ms Syal delivers a near-perfect portrayal of a woman rediscovering her soul.
Educating Rita 3/5
Shirley Valentine 4/5
Menier Chocolate Factory, London
Tickets 020 7907 7060
