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No country for old women: Old Ladies - at Finborough Theatre

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The day after seeing The Old Ladies at the Finborough Theatre , I was describing the play to someone in great detail: about three old ladies who lived in a rickety house in southern England in 1935. Based on Hugh Walpole’s novel and adapted by Rodney Ackland, it is the sort of story with enough believability, humour and mild thriller to stick in your mind. Perhaps it is the lure of this dark, forboding tale of a life without money, to be alone and to be old, that makes you feel attracted to this poverty porn. But then again, given the state of the world, the cost of living, an ageing population, or just the fact that it’s a dog-eat-dog world, it might as well be an every little old lady-for-herself, too. It’s a well-acted and staged piece that moves at a brisk pace, so there isn’t much time to think about it too much. And in the intimate (or should that be claustrophobic?) space of the Finborough, there’s nowhere to avert your eyes. Even if you wanted to.  The scene is a grim Cathe...

Party time: I Went To A Fabulous Party @kingsheadthtr @fabpartyplay


I Went to a Fabulous Party by debut writer And Davies is currently showing at the Kings Head Theatre. Its a play that leaves nothing much to the imagination. 

Under the guise of a party at a successfully married couple's place, a range of gay stereotypes is summoned to liven things up. There is the gym bunny, the nerd, the bear, the jock and the chicken. 

Anyway, after a few throwaway lines about it being too darn hot or wanting to show something for the cammers, suddenly half the cast are naked. 

There is so much relentless full frontal nudity in the show that perhaps some of the characters should walk on naked and then proceed to get dressed just to be a bit different.


The piece briefly explores the superficiality of the gay world and the need to be true to yourself, but what really comes across most is how dire gay parties can be. 

Nevertheless the piece really does not  take itself too seriously. First time writer Davies manages to include enough bitchy banter to sustain the piece for its one hour duration. 

There is also constant interaction with the audience including a bit of participation for anyone game enough and with a burning desire to get dressed up in a fireman's outfit.  

No doubt its late night slot in Edinburgh will serve it better than the early evening slot at the Kings Head, when its audience will have the benefit of having a few drinks under its belt and feeling less inhibited. 

 Still, it's mostly harmless and mercifully brief. And at least the actors are getting paid for their bravery.

I Went To A Fabulous Party is directed by Dan Phillips and runs at the Kings Head Theatre until 5 July and then is off to Edinburgh in August. 

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎


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