Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Pros: Flawless performances by the entire cast.
Cons: None. This is a beautiful piece of theatre. An uplifting and moving play about grief, hope, kindness – and lipstick.
Summary
Rating
Excellent
It was certainly the feeling I experienced last night, when I left the Park Theatre up in Finsbury Park, having shared a moving evening with strangers which saw me choking down tears and laughing outright moments later.
It was mid-morning in October 1966 when, in the small Welsh village of Aberfan, the catastrophe struck. A colliery spoil collapsed and sent an avalanche of rock and shale sliding down the mountain, burying the local school and killing 116 children and 28 adults.
Neil Anthony Docking’s The Revlon Girl tells the true story of a group of the bereaved mothers who, ashamed to seem frivolous, secretly invite a Revlon sales rep to their weekly gatherings to give them beauty tips. It’s a story of grief and sorrow, helplessness and anger, but also hope, kindness and compassion. All five characters are excellently portrayed, a true study of human diversity, and over the course of the play we get to know them intimately, and discover the different ways in which they cope with their grief. The most moving character is that of Sian (Charlotte Gray), who hides her loneliness under a mask of strength, and who desires a different mask – that of make-up, and beauty – to help her overcome her sorrow.
If this all sounds rather depressing, it is, but Maxine Evan’s production brings in plenty of lighter moments. The cast is outstanding, and they work as well individually as they do as a perfectly coordinated group. It’s a beautiful, poignant and powerful play. Don’t miss it.
Author: Neil Anthony Docking
Director: Maxine Evans
Box Office: 020 7870 6876
Booking Link: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-revlon-girl/about
Booking Until: 14 October 2017
