The Picture of Doreen Gray (Tour – Oldham)

It is always a pleasure to see the comedy duo,Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding – known collectively as Lip Service back on the stage and audiences at Oldham Coliseum are always happy to welcome them back.

This year's offering has been co-produced with the Coliseum and takes its inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s well know A Picture of Dorian Gray.

Enter Doreen Gray, a successful radio and TV personality who offers her services to local campaigns and charity events and has committed her self to her career. At 55, she finds her services are no longer as desirable as they once were and after an encounter with an ex-school pal Andrea; Doreen’s presence at a school reunion begins a chain of events that see her make a pact that improves her looks and returns her back to the limelight; but at what cost?

In true LipService style, the minimalist set is the butt of many jokes, the ageist humour is ever present and the wink wink nod nod facial mugging and eyebrow rolling does not fail to reduce the audience to fits of giggles.

On this occasion the writing falls a little short of what we have come to expect from this pair. The overall feeling is of light humour rather than the clever witty hilarity seen in other pieces such as Desperate to be Doris and Inspector Norse.

Act One in particular feels quite drawn and the inevitable conclusions take some time to be reached. Act Two contains more of the comedic scenes and is better received.

This duo undoubtedly provide great quality reliable shows year after year and no doubt will be back with more side-splitting offerings and long may they continue to parody all kinds of classics.

A mirth-filled evening that will entertain many no doubt and is a good way to spend a chilly autumnal evening.

The Picture of Doreen Gray is at the Oldham Coliseum until 25 October.