Review: An Evening with Patsy May, Phoenix Arts Club

Yes folks, your hostess with the mostest Patsy May has smashed the West End yet again with an outstanding evening of fun, laughter and incredible music. This beautiful blue bombshell is back in town in the intimate setting of the Phoenix Arts Club, and with some unbelievable special guests.

In the hands of the incredibly talented Laura Bacon, Patsy is looking good, having had a complete do-over including new hairstyle, new outfits and even a full skin replacement (?). It takes only moments before we’re reminded what a talented individual she is. Patsy is simply sizzling as she lets rip a fantastic version of ‘All That Jazz’, which we learn she last performed in the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent. It brings the house down: the room is full of love for her, the crowd go wild and we’re hooked.

It’s an evening of songs, video clips, audience participation and superb surprises. The first of her special guests is the hilarious Harry Boyd who Patsy knows from his days starring as Winnie the Pooh on stage, but who is anticipating his big break as a ‘serious’ actor… There follows some crazy renditions of tunes from Pooh, which have everyone whole-heartedly singing along, then some ridiculous Shakespearean insult generation with an enthusiastic audience. The two make a brilliant team. Boyd is enormously charismatic and also proves useful for roping in unsuspecting spectators to play along with Patsy’s games. Patsy is, as ever, an exceptional host, ad-libbing and finding the funny in the tiniest thing, so there’s not a moment where the audience isn’t laughing uproariously.

Adding to the talent, the spectacular jazz singer Louise Messenger joins Patsy for a hilarious and deeply heartfelt rendition of the Home and Away theme tune. It brings tears to the eyes – though more of laughter than sentiment. All three performers are exceptional singers and it’s thrilling to hear them together on the same stage, yet kind of difficult to correlate such quality with being in a dark basement in Soho! It’s bonkers, but brilliant!

Patsy demonstrates her extraordinary ventriloquism and puppetry skills with an adorable mini Patsy, before an unfortunate audience member is hauled onstage to learn puppetry from the maestro. Sadly, tonight Boyd picked me. Patsy claims she can’t see who is chosen (she “hasn’t got her contacts in”…) and I have to say, you really wouldn’t choose the reviewer to humiliate would you? The rest is a blur but I detected copious laughter. However, this does remind us that Bacon is making all of this happen blind, squeezed into a tiny space, using her best telepathic ability to read the audience and the participant, give instructions to them and to the helper, while responding with outstanding humour that packs in enormously funny gags. All in an American accent. She is astonishingly talented: the wind beneath Patsy’s wings.

Throughout, Patsy does what she does best, ad-libbing and schmoozing the audience while managing multiple styles of performance and interacting with video clips. There’s barely a second when we’re not giggling or guffawing at her seam splitting hilarity; but the whole is a deceptively sophisticated collection of skills and ability.

The finale includes a mind-blowing sing-along from Les Mis with Patsy and her superb guests, supported by a video including practically the whole of British puppetry royalty including Basil Brush, Zippy, Hacker the Dog and the wonderful Mavis Mayes. It’s just magnificent! Come on guys, if Hacker can be on Blue Peter it’s time for Patsy to be hosting a holiday show!! Move over Jane McDonald and give this girl a top spot!

You can read more about Patsy May in our recent interview here.

Written and performed by Laura Bacon

An Evening with Patsy May played for one night only at Phoenix Arts Club