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Myra Dubois, the Dame Edna of Rotherham, is back and ready to heal us with her sharp tongue, quick wit and the joy of being in her presence.Summary
Rating
Excellent
At this stage of her career, Myra Dubois is not too happy to be on stage in Hackney. After all, her previous appearances include reaching the semis (ooh-err) on Britain’s Got Talent, walking West End stages, and a guest appearance in the film of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Mind you, this is nothing compared to the multitude of award-winning screen and stage appearances we’re told happened in Myra’s world.
Nevertheless, East London is being graced with Myra’s shining yet contempt-fuelled persona, dreamed up and performed by Gareth Joyner. Myra Dubois: Be Well, a tongue-in-cheek self-help seminar, first met troubled audiences in 2023 and is now on a UK and Ireland tour.
She hasn’t come alone, though. Myra’s warm-up act, Frank Lavender, is another Joyner comic creation. Unfortunately for Frank, he is every middle-aged comedic man from the 80’s. Even though he’s a self-proclaimed supporter of “the homosexuals”, he would still rather they were both not-seen and not-heard. Bumbling but oddly endearing, he took a little bit of a getting used to.
While Myra is familiar to many through a swathe of reels online showcasing her at her funniest, Frank was new to me and, I think, many of the audience. Frank is a familiar dad/uncle/grandfather figure who appears to support their young queer relative but would really rather not know anything about it whatsoever. Knowing the audience who come for Myra, Joyner plays on LGBT people’s remarkable ability to laugh about their trauma – and we did. A nice set-up as well, as we discover he’s Myra’s brother-in-law.
And so, to the main event, the diva herself, Myra Dubois. If you’re not familiar with her sharp, cutting wit, you have to feel it to know it. Always working the room, she is intelligent yet humble to a fault, better than you and not afraid to let you know. Bedecked in jewels and coiffed hair, Myra is Dame Edna of Rotherham.
Myra Dubois: Be Well, directed by John-Luke Roberts, is Myra’s chance to provide treatment and heal us of our problems just by being herself. She has a remarkable way of keeping everyone on-side despite some incredible but deep-cutting crowd work, and her character-building solo segments were some of the most campily funny things I’ve seen. While catty, snake-tongued and eyebrow raising quips are nothing new to the community, Myra’s (and therefore Joyner’s) sharp mind and well plotted character make her show something you won’t find anywhere else.
Some of the remaining shows are sold out so you may struggle, but Be Well is one you shouldn’t miss.
Written and performed by: Gareth Joyner
Directed by: John-Luke Roberts
Animation by: Josh Quinton
Myra Dubois: Be Well was at the Hackney Empire for two nights. The tour continues around the UK – for more information and to buy tickets, click here.
