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:  ☆☆☆ 

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

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

Most Popular

Five Characters in Search of a Good Night’s Sleep ★★★★ Southwark Playhouse | Apr 27 - May 21, 2022

Image
The title says it all. These are five monologues delivered by characters who are apparently suffering from insomnia. They are five very different people, but they all endure the same malady and in doing so they have time to recount their memories, regrets, fears and aspirations. Helen (Sally Knyvette) is a middle class woman who is self-contained and house proud; Bill (Vincenzo Nicoli) is a gentle chef with a romantic nature; Hugo (Gary Lilburn) is an Irish sculptor who as a child was abandoned by his father; Terry (Geraldine Alexander) is a woman who has lost a child and is now a caregiver for her own mother; Harvey (Andrew Hawkins) is a left-wing teacher who has been sacked from his job. All of the characters have interesting stories and all of the actors do absolutely first rate jobs at bringing them to life. Indeed, the quality of the acting is what makes this an exceptional production. However for us, the writing and construction of the work did not always rise to the high standar
Full Details »

Bliss ★★★★ Finborough Theatre | May 17 - Jun 11, 2022

Image
Bliss is Fraser Grace's theatrical adaptation of the short story, The River Potudan , by Russian writer, Andrey Platonov. It is the tale of Nikita, a young soldier, who returns to his village home after the Russian Civil War. It is 1921, and he seeks to resume his pre-war life, courting a young medical student, Lyuba, and trying to re-establish himself in the world he once knew. However, his dream is dashed by both his own demons and the external forces unleashed in the conflict he has participated in. Ostensibly a story about post-traumatic stress syndrome, Nikita's struggle also serves as a grim parable of Russian history. Written in 1937, Platonov's story exposes the loss of idealism that followed Lenin's triumph and underlines all the horrors of Stalin's takeover of the revolution. Jesse Rutherford is positively haunting in his portrayal of Nikita, the once idealistic young man who is reduced to unfeeling impassivity, while Bess Roche does a terrific job of cap
Full Details »

Future Shock ★★★★ 180 The Strand | Apr 28 - Aug 28, 2022

Image
Presented by Fact and 180 Studios this exhibition takes one into a series of immersive audio-visual experiences that question both reality and how we view it. The installations seek to blur the distinctions between the actual and the virtual, using AI, 3D digital mapping, lasers, holographic projections and some good old smoke and mirrors. The artists and collectives represented are creating situations which cause the viewer/participants to reconsider their relation to time and space and to re-evaluate the nature of their perception. With United Visual Artists' Vanishing Point 3:1 and Topologies , one is invited to participate in a surreal journey that both disorients and resituates. It is a profound and moving event. We also particularly liked Lawrence Lek's Theta . However, it's unfortunate that there is not a timed entry so that one experiences the narrative from the beginning. The works of Weirdcore and Nonotak, Subconscious and Daydream V.6 , also stood out for us a
Full Details »

Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show ★★★★★ Richmond Theatre | May 23 - 28, 2022

Image
If you've ever wondered about the appeal of this cult classic, the current production will definitely answer any questions!  Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show is a manically delightful evening in the theatre. Ore Oduba and Haley Flaherty are simply perfect as the naïve young Brad and Janet whose car breaks down and who then stumble into a world of questionable pastimes and forbidden pleasures. Oduba's rendition of "Dammit Janet," supplemented by the obligatory audience commentary, sets the tone for a hilarious rollercoaster of a night. From that point on, we are off and running, and the pace never flags as the horror/science fiction narrative bewilders and bemuses. Some of the funniest ripostes come from the audience itself, but the Narrator, Philip Franks, contributes a superb commentary, laced with some pithy comments about the contemporary political situation, that adds to the mayhem. Lauren Ingram as Columbia does a quite brilliant comic mime, and Suzie
Full Details »

Space Station Earth ★★★★ Royal Albert Hall | May 15, 2022

Image
Space Station Earth combines original music by Ilan Eshkeri with images from the International Space Station to create an experience that seeks to offer the audience a new perspective on our planet and our place in the universe. The concert is preceded by a discussion between the composer and British, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, Tim Peake. Peake talks about approaching Eshkeri with the idea for the project and about his own experiences travelling to the Space Station and living there. He does a terrific job of communicating his enthusiasm for space travel and for this collaborative effort which seeks to share that adventure. The concert itself strives to immerse the listener/spectator in the myriad of feelings provoked by a voyage into space. As Eshkeri notes "There are so many facts and figures about travelling to the International Space Station, but no one has ever told the emotional journey that astronauts go on." Eshkeri's lush and uplifting composition wh
Full Details »

Legally Blonde ★★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | May 13 - Jul 2, 2022

Image
From value-skewed Valley Girl to law school valedictorian is a long and hilarious journey, and it’s not just the traveler who changes. Elle Woods learns and grows on her quest, but she also affects those around her and shakes the foundations of that bastion of the establishment, Harvard Law School. As evidenced by the amount of pink (Elle’s signature colour) worn by the audience on any given night, this is a show that clearly resonates. Beyond all the fun, is a message that society can be transformed into a more accepting place and that diversity can triumph in the grey halls of conformity. In this current production Legally Blonde certainly triumphs in the hearts of the audience. Director, Lucy Moss has given us an over-the-top production that matches Elle's exuberance and there are some super production numbers like "Bend and Snap" and "There! Right There! (Gay or European?)" To the part of Elle, Courtney Bowman brings a great big voice and a wonderfully enga
Full Details »

Bad Nights and Odd Days ★★★★ Greenwich Theatre | June 23 - July 10, 2021

Image
Bad Nights and Odd Days is a long evening of short plays. Dating from 1971 to 1980, the four fascinating pieces by Caryl Churchill are supremely well acted under James Haddrell's tight direction. In Seagulls , Churchill explores the effect of unwanted celebrity on the telekinetic Valerie who cannot cope with fame. This is an excellent portrayal from Kerrie Taylor. Put simply, Three More Sleepless Nights sees two couples suffering relationship turmoil. Churchill's signature overlapping dialogue appears here, and performers Paul McGann and, especially, Gracy Goldman excel; meanwhile, Dan Gaisford, as Pete, wibbles on about the plot of Alien seemingly unaware that Dawn (Verna Vyas) is disintegrating beside him. The third play, Abortive , doesn't quite delve deeply enough into its subject of abortion after rape, although McGann (Colin) and Taylor (Roz) again give outstanding performances. Finally, Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen sees Churchill in an unusual foray into fut
Full Details »

Busman's Honeymoon ★★★ The Mill at Sonning | Apr 28 - Jun 25, 2022

Image
The Mill at Sonning remains the perfect dinner theatre experience. The meal is always first rate and the setting is a positive delight. For a summer afternoon or evening out, this is a venue that always delivers a delightful break from the city while offering amazing value. The current production is Dorothy L. Sayers' final Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, Busman's Honeymoon . The perspicacious detective has finally married Harriet Vane, the love of his life, and they've purchased Talboys, a quiet country house in Hertfordshire. But, as it turns out the honeymoon hideaway is very far from providing a pastoral idyll. Murder is afoot and Wimsey is drawn into the proceedings. For lovers of the classic whodunit, the puzzle will definitely confound them as Wimsey declares the solution is to be found not in the "why" but in the "how" of the crime. Sayers' world and characters are studied, stylised creations and, by its very nature, the genre has a certain brittl
Full Details »

The Human Connection ★★★★ Omnibus Theatre | June 22 - July 4, 2021

Image
The Human Connection , a double bill by Eugene O'Hare, is not exactly well balanced. The first monologue ( Larry Devlin Wants to Talk to You About Something That Happened ) lasts around twenty minutes, whilst the second ( Child 786 ) is a two-hander running for over eighty minutes. For us, the first piece was much more impressive; it was considerably better written and superbly performed. Stephen Kennedy is in award-winning form as Larry. Standing alone in a pool of light, he nervously fiddles with his fingers and scratches his ear as he passionately recalls painful memories of hitting his eight-year-old son over twenty years ago. He gives a frightening and faultless performance. Perhaps, the writing, good as it is, lacks an overarching shape but it remains powerful stuff. Before a final shock, we suffer much of Larry's torment and heartbreak. This is spellbinding theatre! Child 786 left us with too many unanswered questions. O'Hare's take on the pandemic feels a littl
Full Details »

Paula Rego ★★★★★ Tate Britain | Jul 7 - Oct 24, 2021

Image
This Paula Rego retrospective is a simply phenomenal exhibition. She is, perhaps, not as well known as she should be – if you've been to the café at the National Gallery you may not have realised that the murals there are by Rego. Here, in Tate Britain, we have over one hundred pieces from sixty years arranged through eleven galleries, which show the huge range of her work. Rego's fierce anti-fascism frequently manifests itself as does her sociopolitical feminism; women are frequently depicted as coerced and abused by the system, notably in the Dog Woman series of pictures. She uses the full range of media whilst seemingly reinventing figurative painting. Many works have never been seen in Britain before; two which we found particularly striking were The Dance (1988) featuring her husband and Cast of Characters from Snow White (1996). The latter with its hint of cruelty behind the lightheartedness offers a nod towards Bruegel or Hogarth. Elements of caricature morph into ni
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings