UK Theatre Network

While proper critics have been somewhat disappointed by the play, complaining about intellectual under-nourishment and predictability, The Priory for me was just the thing to see in December and you should all go as well.
(And critics should avoid the word 'chum' - it crept into all the reviews somehow and sat there as a graying linguistic entity).



I loved the production design to begin with: from the John Lewis laps, to the reindeer trophy covered in fairy lights and those big gothic windows staring out to the godforsaken rural nowhere baring ghost. Splendid. 

The costumes were hilarious, spot on and plenty. The picture above doesn't do it justice really, it was more like the Nutcracker meets his Fatal Attraction in a drag-bar. I could linger over the semiotics of a muffin top inflicted by skinny jeans, or how a sky-blue pair of socks might be the perfect finishing touch to a character, but the snob inside me puts a stop to that.  

Onto the play than: I haven't laught so much in theatre in ages. It is just really funny and well acted. The piece was naturally not written for eternety , it is theatre-lite with a few lower notes, its fresh and entertaining and it will be so last year next year.
This carpe diem comedy unites an eclectic mix stereotypical characters: Brigit Jones gone bad and her queer sidekick, who falls short of heterosexual preconceptions, party with Mr Failure and Mrs Power Lesbian cum Mummy Biggest accompanied by dream-pair du joure.

The best reason to go and see The Priory is to attend a New-Year Party and be done with it. Buy the ticket, watch the play, breathe a sigh of relief and tick the midnight-misery with champaign and smudged make-up off your list. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lphmbIPlq9g