Talent
From: Thursday, 17th September 2009
To: Saturday, 14 November 2009
Our Review: 
Your Reviews:
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Synopsis
It’s talent night at Bunter’s niteclub, and contestant Julie and her fat friend Maureen are waiting backstage. As they are plunged into a world of ukulele-wielding pensioners, crotch-grabbing comperes and some long- buried personal history, Julie and Maureen have to decide how lucky they really want to be.
Our Review:
Theo Bosanquet - 24 September 2009
Long before Acorn Antiques, Dinnerladies and Pat and Margaret, a 25-year-old Victoria Wood wrote Talent, largely as a vehicle for herself and the equally embarrassingly talented Julie Walters.
The 'play with songs', here revised and revived in Wood's own production, undoubtedly provides an interesting slice of comic history. But as an experience it's rather like watching a repeat of a sitcom from the same era (it was first performed in 1978), and not just because the cast features Jeffrey Holland. One can revel in the nostalgia, but to put it bluntly it's just not as funny as it once was.
Set in fictional Mancunian niteclub Bunter's (“winner of best kept keg beer”), it centres on lithe talent show contestant Julie and her big hearted and big boned friend Maureen. As Julie prepares for her big number, they wait backstage and encounter a number of quirky characters, including a rampant womanising compere, a comedy magician "with ba...
Latest User Review
Gareth James - 8 October 2009:
This 30-year old early Victoria Wood play was given a rare outing on the fringe last year before this higher profile one at the Menier, but it hasn’t really risen to the challenge. The tale of a talent contest in a Manchester club in the 70’s has its moments, but not enough of them I’m afraid. It proves that comedy was a much better vehicle for her observant humour than plays would have been; she chose the right career. That said, I don’t begrudge seeing this 90 minute curiosity again which is well staged and performed. ...
Cast
Suzie Toase (Maureen)
Leanne Rowe (Julie)
Mark Curry (compere)
Mark Hadfield (Arthur Hall)
Jeffrey Holland (George Findley)
Eugene O'Hare (Mel)
Creative
Victoria Wood (Music)
Victoria Wood (Lyrics)
Menier Chocolate Factory (Producer)
Old Laundrey Theatre Bowness (Producer)
Victoria Wood (Director)
Roger Glossop (Design)
Roger Glossop (Costume)
Paul Anderson (Lighting)
David Ogilvy (Sound)
Nigel Lilley (musical supervision) (Music)
Information
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