Review: MENOPAUSE PARTY at The Hen and Chickens Theatre 25/30 June and on tour

“Move over Al Murray, here is the working wo-man’s Pub Landlady Dolly Slateman, authentic, endearing and hugely entertaining” ★★★.5

Billed as a ‘taboo-smashing’ show, for the ‘masses’, it delivers exactly what it promises.  The working wo-man’s Pub Landlady, Dolly Slatemen presents the evenings ‘edutainment’ along with two of her friends, Dr Meena Poors and Judge Mental. The show is conceived and performed by real life pub landlady and actor Debbie Baisden. 

Baisden immerses herself in the outrageous caricatures, speaking directly to the audience and using audience participation with singalongs and catch phrases. It is a highly entertaining show, and one that should be seen by all women who are likely to go through the menopause of 40 years plus, bearing in mind that the popular culture referred to is aimed at this mid-life and older audience. Men are welcome too.   

Baisden has a real talent for stand-up character comedy, working the audience with ease and there is an honesty to her act. During her performance as Dolly, the Essex Landlady, we learn a lot about Baisden along the way. It’s also endearing (and not at all laboured) that she mentions her journey into developing this show about the menopause: what it’s like being menopausal while working, and also her dream of becoming an actor. 

Baisden easily inhabits the other two character with a simple costume change, hilariously done behind her costume box (with a costume malfunction which Baisden might now have to include in her act). The Australian Doctor (”accent’s rubbish” says Dolly) is outrageous, and necessarily so because this is the moment when the show concentrates on the ‘edu’ side of the ‘edutainment’.  As the Judge, Baisden is immersed in this serious character leaving audiences wanting more. 

It's a complex show which is ably directed by Chris Head, with not a dull moment.   

Overall, Baisden is so close to getting the audience in the palm of her hand, Pub Landlord, Al Murray style, with authority and authenticity. She’s often satirically astute and she’s even got the catch phrases.  It wouldn’t hurt to hear ‘Ain’t No Party Like a Menopause Party’ a few more times as we loved shouting it out.   

One question is whether ‘edutainment’ might sound condescending and put off prospective audiences, after all, we’ve got Doctor Google, but Baisden is never talking down to her audience but rather living through the menopause with them. There is plenty of laughter, sometimes a spike from a single person, as audiences relate to different things in her show.   Baisden clearly has courage, passion and talent; she deserves to get her show noticed.

MENOPAUSE PARTY

The Hen and Chickens Theatre 25/30 June

Chelmsford Fringe Garrison Tavern 13/14/15 July

https://www.chelmsfordfringefestival.com/whats-on/menopause-party---edinburgh-preview

Edinburgh Fringe at The Space UK 22 - 27 August

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Menopause%20Party%22

Canal Café Theatre 22 & 23 September

https://canalcafetheatre.com/our-shows/menopauseparty/

More venues/dates to follow

Writer/Performer: Debbie Baisden

Director: Chris Head

Twitter/FB: @menopauseparty

www.menopauseparty.co.uk

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery