Mmm Hmmm (Tobacco Factory Theatres)

Verity Standen‘s Mmm Hmmm is pleasingly difficult to categorise. Its not theatre in the traditional sense though its inherently theatrical, there’s no sense of narrative and very little of theme even as it builds to a quietly moving finale. Ultimately, what this little gem of a show offers, is a paean to the wonders of the human voice.

From the shadows step three women linked closely together, dressed in jersey/dress hybrids. They are eminently watchable, beguiling, mischievous, innocents. They dance but their moves are not of the kind you would see at Rambert. Its clunky, graceless, artless. Then they open their mouths and the magic happens.

There are lyrics to the words they sing, of modern day life, of swiping your Nectar card, of First Great Western delays. They sing Judy Garland’s ‘You Made Me Love You’ with biscuit spittle flying out of their mouths. It is all slightly barmy but completely charming.

The trio of Standen, Dominie Hooper and Ellie Showering display the sheer technical marvel of the human voice, their voices blending together, breaking apart, they share words and syllables one at a time in perfect synchronicity, creating a choral harmonic soundscape that produce tingleson the back of the neck.

It’s the ideal length at forty five minutes not allowing any longeurs to form, and confirms Standen (who also directs) as a theare maker of great promise and original voice.