Midlife Cowboy, The Pleasance Theatre - ★★★ - Until October 6, 2019


The members of the Swindon Country and Western Club finally win first prize at the local Railway Museum Gala evening after several years of trying because they are able to overcome their personal problems and to bring a new authenticity to their performance. The tale of this amateur music group is underlaid with subplots involving the five principals coming to terms with their true selves. Jane (Debra Stephenson) and Stuart (Tony Hawks) deal with a childless marriage, a suggestion of infidelity and the fact that Stuart's fantasy persona of The Heartbreak Kid has become so necessary to him that it dominates his ability to be himself in real life. Graham (Duncan Wisbey) has the mirror image of Stuart's problem. He must enable his imagination and create a character which releases a side of himself that makes him attractive to Penny (Georgina Field) who must learn not to be obsessed by changing her reality and that of others. Dan (James Thackeray) has a secret he must share in order to achieve full self-acceptance and acceptance by others. The songs in the piece vary in quality and as they do in delivery; for us, the stand-out was "You Could Be the Star of a Western." It had an authentic country feel and summed up the aspirations of the characters and the show.

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆ 

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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until October 6, 2019
Wed - Fri: 7:30 pm, Sat & Sun 2:30 pm
The Pleasance Theatre
Nearest tube: Caledonian Road
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/midlife-cowboy#overview
Map & Location: Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF, UK

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