Grindr Mom At Waterloo East Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Debbie Kingsland
Before I start to tell you what the production is about, I need to tell you about the stage set.
One woman, one chair and a table with pictures of the family and the gay son Joe. Oh! And a mid way entrance of a forbidden can of Pepsi. First thoughts, how is this lone woman with very few props going to keep us entertained for ninety minutes without a break? Well, let me tell you this! Gindr Mom kept us not only entertained but captivated for the whole ninety minutes of the production. She was funny, engaging and the whole audience appeared to be totally engrossed. She made eye contact with both myself and many others which made it feel as if she was telling you the story in her lounge.
I have reviewed numerous plays, but never yet have I started planning what other plays Grindr Mom (Jessica Martin) is in before we have even got home. She was astoundingly fabulous and what a voice. She didn’t sing often during the ninety minutes, but when she did it actually gave me goosebumps.
The play is an hilarious comedy about a happily married Mormon mum whose ideal was to get married as she did to her husband who had apparent anger issues, have a houseful of children who would consequently bear a mass of grandkids. The ideals would be this family would be a credit to both the wider family and the Mormon church congregation of which Grindr Mum and husband were already in the fold. This was a million miles away from the destiny they were given.
God, as she says, didn’t have that plan for them. Instead they were blessed with Joe, their only living son after two still born children. Joe confided in his mum that he was in fact gay. This secret to be passed on to Dad. Tried to be a loving, understanding and thoroughly modern mum she took to investigating the Grindr site that Joe said he found his partners. Apparently, she was of the opinion that this was similar to one she was already aware of that matched Christian couples, how wrong could she have been. Grindr Mom decided to set a profile up to see what it was all about. An eye opener for her was an understatement and not one iota like the Christian dating site she was imagining. What she uncovered from the site and other members of the site left her in total disbelief. I’m not going to go into more detail but let me tell you it was the funniest thing you will see. Get tickets asap you will not be disappointed in the slighted.
The play was written by Ronnie Larson who is an actor-director-playwright and producer – Very clever in my opinion.
Jessica has played in over thirty musicals and her West End debut was as Sally Smith with Gary Newman in the hit musical Me and My Girl. In addition to acting she is also a talented singer, impressionist and cabaret performer.
Rating: 5/5
Age range – Definitely adults only for this one (IMO)
Where to get tickets – www.waterlooeast.co.uk
Waterloo East Theatre, Brad Street SE1 8TN – It’s a tiny entrance under a railway bridge.
Getting there – Nearest station is Waterloo East which is a couple of minutes away however we went to Blackfriars and walked along the Southbank which took us about twelve minutes but a fab walk.
Prices – Standard £25 and concessions £22.50
*Students I Unwaged I Over 60’s I Equity I MU I Disabled Universal Credit I Lambeth Residents I NHS I Armed Forces
The show is at Waterloo East Theatre until the 1st March
Tuesday to Friday – 7:30 pm
Saturday 4pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday 4pm only
Running time 90 minutes – no interval