A fresh and original musical comedy about a rarely discussed subject matter.Rating
Excellent!
When we first meet Cheryl (Sara Jane Derrick), she’s clearly struggling a little both with confidence and health, and suspects that it might be due to the early stages of the menopause. Each night, a battle for the duvet takes place with husband Charlie (Lucia Fox) as she is subjected to all manner of confusing symptoms that no one has ever warned her about. Charlie, meanwhile, is more frustrated about the lack of intimacy than any difficulties his wife might be going through.
The above description may sound like the premise for a fairly bleak kitchen sink drama, but writer and director Heather Davis has instead chosen to make an upbeat and very funny musical comedy. Borrowing parts of the plot from a famous fairy tale provides it with a satisfying narrative arc, but the majority of the show is a selection of very funny sketches and songs, which see Cheryl attempt to cope with life when she’s uncertain as to how she’ll feel on an hour-by-hour basis.
Luckily, Cheryl does have support from her best friend Sandra (Fox again, who takes on multiple roles with aplomb). She’s also going through a similar situation in her life, though she’s a little more experienced and wishes Cheryl would visit her GP and consider HRT. Cheryl’s too overwhelmed to consider that initially, and understandably so, given that one of the main symptoms is severe brain fog, which is personified here in the form of the fairy godmother-esque Fuzzy B (Elliott McMillan). It’s an idea that adds some pleasingly offbeat humour to the production, and also introduces some very likeable rapping to the already delightful soundtrack, The songs are largely a mixture of pop, rap and numbers that echo more traditional musical theatre, but all feel charming, fresh and original, and – unlike too many new musicals – won’t just remind you of a West End hit.
As well as an effectively constructed set, there’s a projected animation that’s used to highlight Cheryl’s state of mind, which also includes quotes and statistics reflecting the dialogue. At first, I had minor concerns that it might be a little distracting, but it’s used well, and quickly becomes a powerful tool to expand upon the topics tackled in the play.
While much of Cheryl’s story is told in a light and frothy manner, it does gently introduce some serious points about the lack of NHS support for women going through this stage in their lives, and the need for education more widely. Hopefully, the show will be able to help the NHS out on that front, as this new musical is consistently great fun, with the cast all clearly not only possessing fantastic vocals but a real skill for physical comedy too.
Music Composed by Georgina St George
Written, Produced and Directed by Heather Davis
Fresh Knickers (and a Gin and Tonic) has finished its current run
