01 Feb REVIEW: Molly Wobbly at the Leicester Square Theatre
Welcome to Little Happening, England. More specifically, welcome to Mammary Lane, where the jaded local shopkeepers lament a dearth of business, failing marriages and the distinct absence of spontaneity in their lives. Meet Margaret (Jane Milligan), a strong and dominating tailor, Ruth (Stephanie Fearon) the stereotypical trophy wife, and Jemma, still drab and dowdy despite being married to a fab-you-lous hairdresser. But all at once, strange things start to happen in Little Happening…One day all the clocks suddenly, and inexplicably freeze…Then all the women awake with a burning in their chests, flinging their clothes off and singing in the street…As the men begin to rally together, they start to ask could there be a less-than-ordinary culprit?
A weird and wonderful musical from the weird and wonderful mind of Paul Boyd, Molly Wobbly shows us the world that might exist on the other side of a fluorescent filter. Crammed with cultish appeal, the bizarre story features an intoxicating cocktail of Catholic nuns, cosmetic surgery, a coss-dressing angel and many, many boobs. For good measure also throw into the mixer a selection of synonyms for “breast” that any thesaurus would raise its eyebrows at, stir (vigorously) and add some heels that even RuPaul would find too high. Then serve with a flourish.
The most pertinent question to leave Molly Wobbly thinking, is “wow, who knew there were so many different words for breasts?!” But far from disembodying his characters’ assets, Paul Boyd has had the audacity to create female characters that are as developed in the personality department as in the titty department, and although it’s a source of continued frustration that all the women have to have a makeover to achieve financial success and marital harmony, it really is a show about female empowerment and mutual support.
As Jemma, Cassie Compton proves her West End pedigree in a vocal performance worthy of her casting as a Cameron Mackintosh Eponine, with the added magic of singing at close quarters to the audience without any artificial amplification. Alongside her, Stephanie Fearon plays out the stereotypical bimbo with aplomb, her stunning voice demanding the attention despite spending the show with her perfectly sculpted body clad only in lingerie. But the ladies of Molly Wobbly are just half of the outstanding cast, each member, without exception, delivering knock-out vocals. Conleth Kane redefines “mincing around,” a stark contrast to Ashley Knight, as Malcolm, seemingly the most sensible of them all.
The talented cast get to play with a score that’s fun yet largely unremarkable, and memorable primarily because it has more than a passing resemblance to Cats’ Jellicle Cats. Though hearing the characters perfectly harmonising the word, “fuck,” complete with jazz hands, is a rather unforgettable moment.
A show that’s perfect for an evening out, the hand of The Rocky Horror Show’s Christopher Malcolm is plain to see. Utterly bonkers from the opening sequence to closing credits, Molly Wobbly has to be seen to be believed.
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Dates: 27 January – 14 March 2015
For tickets and information: leicestersquaretheatre.com/MollyWobbly