Combining shocking situations with merry mundaneness, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis is an absolute tonic, as universally appealing as a huge slice of chocolate cake.
Set on the day of a suburban dominatrix’s 40th birthday, the endearing tale of a disillusioned mother and the colourful personalities in her life navigates the fine line between comedy and drama admirably.
The characters are diverse and distinctive, but somehow believable with it. Debra Baker is charmingly awkward as obsessive compulsive cleaner Martha Clear, a God-fearing Irish women with hair as long as the list of idiosyncrasies in her nature. Sian Richards is equally impressive as slow-witted daughter Brenda-Marie, and her relationship with loving mother Josie (Erica Thomas-Lowe) - jaded at reaching the big four-oh - is poignant and powerful.
The insightfulness of a group of outwardly straight-talking and down to earth Boltonians is gradually and expertly displayed as situations arise in which each of them shows their weaknesses and the others rush to their aid. But the tenderness shown is never saccharine, their natural disinclination towards being effusive making their emotional revelations all the more moving. Tim Blackwell as Lionel is particularly effective in this area - that he can bring something so gentle and poetic to standing in a maid’s outfit wanting to be whipped and humiliated is a talent indeed.
And all that drama without having an opportunity to mention the fantastic Chinese Elvis - who actually turns out to be Vietnamese.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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