Paul Pearce-Couch
It's always a good sign when the theatre critic ends up singing and waving his arms in unison with the rest of the audience, don't you think?
In fact, there's not much to dislike about LipService's latest outing, Desperate To Be Doris. It's camp and outrageous, silly and appealing.
The story is a typically quirky one: office worker Dean longs to be Doris Day and finds his moment in the sun,courtesy of a hard-nosed boss, some daft colleagues, and the unfortunately named Out of My Range Operatic & Dramatic Society as they perform a rickety version of the Day vehicle Calamity Jane. Fortunately, Dean is on hand to step into the lead role at a moment's notice.
Sue Ryding and Maggie Fox, who make up LipService, are no strangers to this lunacy - they're about to mark their 25th anniversary - and so you'd expect them to get it right. But Darren Southworth, who plays Dean, is a revelation. Both funny, engaging and with an astounding singing voice, this latest secondment to LipService is sure to return to the West End to even bigger and better things than he's been doing.
Sue Ryding's various lanky, dour personalities (for both she and the equally skilled Fox play many roles) are side-splittingly hysterical and the chemistry between the pair is tangible.
We could perhaps have done without so very many local references plonked panto-style into the script, and which jarred after a while, but Desperate To Be Doris is inoffensive and a perfect way to fend of the economic blues.
Special mention must be made of the two dozen or so local people who comprise the New Wolsey Theatre Community Choir. They've had a frighteningly short rehearsal period and worked their socks off as a perfect backdrop to some of the Doris Day catalogue of numbers.
Desperate To Be Doris runs at the New Wolsey Theatre until Saturday, October 17th.