The Portrait of Doreen Gray at the Oldham Coliseum Review
The Portrait of Doreen Gray
Oldham Coliseum
16-25 October 2014
Reviewed by Cathy Porteus
‘Doreen’ is not a typo, this is in fact a modern comedic update for Oscar Wilde’s famous novel / play. Doreen Gray is enjoying what she thinks is a successful TV and radio career, when she finds that her face may no longer fit. At age 55, she is being sidelined and having sacrificed her personal life for her career, she risks drifting into a lonely old age without the comforts of fame and fortune.
Doreen is invited to be the guest speaker at her school reunion, as the most famous alumnus, a Turner Prize winning artist, is otherwise engaged. After a fun speech from the headmistress, whose unfortunate confusion between the words tweet and twat causes some amusement from the assembled past pupils, Doreen wanders off to the art corridor. She finds an old self portrait, which talks to her and the plan to swap places is born.
In the second half of the play, we see how having a youthful face rejuvenates Doreen’s career, with pop festivals and showbiz interviews being dropped into her lap. The novelty of an unlined face beings to pall though and Doreen finds that being young is just too exhausting. She decides to swap back with her portrait. This isn’t the easiest of tasks, as the school is due for destruction, but assisted by her old school friend Andrea, Doreen is able to exchange places with her doppelganger.
Entertainly the old Doreen has now embraced her silver locks and is comfortable with her middle age. She then becomes a beacon for older women, extolled the joys of cushioned shoes and elasticated waists. The cast unite to sign an ode to the comforts of older age, making a lovely feel good ending to the play.
Lip Service Theatre’s performers Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding take on all of the main parts in the show, ably assisted by local amateur performers for group scenes. I very much enjoyed their performances, despite the occasional forgotten line. The ad libs to cover these moments were even funnier than the script, showing how well the duo work together. The amateur actors looked like they were having the time of their lives, as did the audience who laughed along and applauded loudly.
Oldham Coliseum is a lovely little local theatre. The seats were comfortable, the staff helpful and cheerful and the refreshments were reasonably priced. The theatre is generally fairly modern in feel but have older style moulding around the dress circle, to give it more of a feel of grandeur. We were able to park on the street, which is free after 6pm but there is also a handy well priced car park nearby. It is about a 5-10 minute walk from either the Oldham Centre or Oldham Mumps metrolink stops.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £11 to £19.50
The Picture of Doreen Gray is at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre until 25 October 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0161 624 2829.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street, Oldham, OL1 3SW | 0161 624 2829
