Review: Spend The Night, Riverside Studios

I only realised on the way home from Riverside Studios’ Bitesize Festival that there was something warmly familiar about Spend The Night. An underused onstage three-piece band and writer-performer Tiffany Black’s eager-to-please persona has more than a hint of a Phoenix Nights-style northern club act about it, complete with one of those shimmering ribbon curtains as a backdrop. I should clarify that I have a nostalgic soft spot for such evenings, so this isn’t inherently a criticism. But as a vibe, it does sit a little awkwardly alongside Spend The Night’s tale of modern 21st-century dating angst and toxic sexual politics, which lurches from broad, playful humour to (spoiler alert) a much darker place. 

I’ve actually rarely encountered a piece of theatre quite so indecisive. Is it a one-woman show? Not exactly. Stand-up? There are plenty of gags. A musical? Not quite. A gig? Kind of. Is it silly? Deadly serious? Fun? Angry? Sad? At the close, Black ambitiously tries to wrap things up with a clap-along, feel-good number, but it feels oddly abrupt and somewhat forced. What exactly are we celebrating?

Still, there’s plenty to appreciate, most notably the songs. Black proves to be a considerably sharper songwriter than dramatist. The show’s marketing references Victoria Wood, and the comparison is not too wide of the mark. Her musical interludes are arch, witty and self-aware, and when they arrive, genuinely welcome. But they don’t push the story forward or feel woven into the fabric of the show. Instead, Black halts her narrative and steps into the spotlight whenever, it seems, the mood strikes her. I can imagine them going down a storm with a cabaret or comedy audience, free from the narrative constraints that come with actual musical theatre. In fact, a little internet research reveals clips of Black performing exactly that.  

The story itself, centred on a dating app rendezvous gone badly wrong, is performed solo, with the male antagonist, Noah (Bailey Fear), and best gal pal, Sammy (Anoushka Kohli), only heard in recorded voiceover. While this device can be smartly used in the right hands, here it feels flat. Too frequently, the direction leaves Black still, on stage, merely listening. Hiring musicians to play drums, keyboard, and bass can’t be cheap. Actual onstage co-stars might have been a more sensible investment.  

It is intriguing to see a dramaturg credited, but Tony Moss seems to have only done half the heavy lifting needed to bring the show fully to life. Elements aren’t quite clicking into place yet. Encouraging Black to channel her knack for pithy, characterful lyrics more consistently into her dialogue might be a good start.  

There is undeniable charm to Black’s work. Her willingness to experiment, blending music, stand-up, and monologue, is commendable, even if the result, right now, feels unsure of itself. With further development, Spend The Night could certainly evolve into a distinctive, genre-straddling piece with something to say. For now, it remains an intriguing work-in-progress, buoyed by catchy tunes, clever lyrics and a likeable, committed performer.

Written by: Tiffany Black
Directed by: Jan Black
Pianist & Musical Direction by: Andy Casterton
Dramaturgy by: Tony Moss 
Co-Produced & Stage Manager: Lori Berg
Lighting & Sound Design by: Conor Costelloe

Spend The Night plays at Riverside Studio until Wednesday 16 July