Reviewed by Louise Watts
Shirley Valentine, the 40 something year old mother of 2 and devoted wife, was first created for stage by the wonderful writer Willy Russell. The play then went to London and subsequently Broadway before being turned into a film by Paramount Pictures. It is absolutely delightful that this frumpy middle-aged housewife who is far from the young girl she remembers has been brought back to the stage for us all to enjoy and relate to once more.
Last evening (Monday 17 July 2017), myself and my friend visited the Theatre Royal in Brighton for the opening night of “Shirley Valentine”. The part of Shirley was played by Jodie Prenger who initially won fame by winning the BBC show “I’d do anything” landing her the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of “Oliver”.
I didn’t realise before attending last night that the stage production of Shirley Valentine was in fact a one lady show starring Jodie and nobody else. I was not sure how this was going to work and when the play started with Shirley in her kitchen moaning about her husband, I began to wonder if I was going to enjoy this. I needn’t have worried because it worked so brilliantly!
The story of Shirley Valentine revolves around a middle-aged housewife who has brought up her 2 children and been a wonderful housewife to her set in his ways rather miserable husband! One day a friend of hers gives her the opportunity to go to Greece with her for 2 weeks. After initially dismissing the idea, Shirley decides to go… without telling her husband! She has the most amazing time and rediscovers herself. After a lot of soul searching she decides she is not returning home and eventually her husband decides to come to Greece to get her. Will he even recognise her now she has found herself again and what does the future hold for Shirley? Every 40 something mother and wife will relate to Shirley. After spending years caring for everybody else, the time comes where we all sit and wonder what happened to us! Not everybody will head off to Greece but many women will go through the process of trying to redefine who we are.
The set was simple and had 2 different scenes – one in Shirley’s kitchen and one on the beach. This was all the show needed and worked perfectly. Shirley’s costumes were brilliant. Very 1980’s and very appropriately chosen.
Jodie deserves a medal for remembering her lines. I cannot even begin to think how anybody can remember a whole play when they are the sole cast member. She really showed her true talent and the way she changed accents to portray each person she was talking about was absolutely brilliant. She absolutely made the show and deserves all the credit for making it as successful as it was last night.
The Theatre Royal itself is an absolutely beautiful venue and it was jam packed yesterday evening. There was a mix of age ranges but everybody was laughing at the comedy moments in the play, of which there were many! Parking for the theatre is easy with a multi storey car park just a few minutes’ walk away. The evening rate for parking is a flat £5 which for a city car park is very reasonable.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and thought Jodie was absolutely exceptional in her role as Shirley and I have no doubt that this will continue to be a very successful play as a result. I would recommend this to any lady who has ever wondered what happened to her as she will relate to all the jokes and laugh all evening! Men are welcome too but they must accept that there are a few jokes aimed at our men!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £15 to £37.50 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Shirley Valentine is at the Theatre Royal in Brighton from 17-22 July 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton or call the box office on 0844 871 7650.
Theatre Royal. New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1SD | 0844 871 7650
