Dinnerladies – Palace Theatre, Manchester

Writer: Victoria Wood

Adaptor/Director: David Graham

Reviewer: Brian Gorman

The Public Reviews Rating:

I really wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this at all. I love Victoria Wood, but never fancied watching her tv sit-com of ’Dinnerladies’. It all looked far too cosy for me. Well, I missed out, didn’t I? She’s a clever one, our Victoria (I can call her ours, as she’s a local lass; born in Prestwich), and there are quite a few dark moments among the primary colours in this stage version adapted from the tv scripts by David Graham, who also directs, for The Comedy Theatre Company.

Set in the kitchen of a Manchester factory canteen, this is the bittersweet love story of Bren (Laura Sheppard uncannily channeling Ms Wood herself) and Tony (Andrew Dunn successfully recreating the role he played on tv). Encouraged to ‘get it on’ by their work colleagues, their road to happiness seems to be eternally blocked by various misunderstandings (both comic and tragic), the misadventures of Bren’s deluded mother Petula (Tamsin Heatley; absolutely hilarious in the Julie Walters part), and Bren’s despairingly low self esteem.

The characters are largely female, middle-aged, and working class, and the laughs vary from simple one-liners to borderline slapstick. Sue Devaney, who also starred in the television version, again plays the common-as-muck Jane in what can only be described as ‘broad terms’. But such is the good humoured warmth of Wood’s writing, that we can forgive some of the eye-rolling, pantomime performances and simply enjoy a superbly crafted production that has something for everybody.

Barrie Palmer’s Stan, the grumpy old handyman, delivers a very touching poem about his father, that is both poignant and appalling in equal measures. Sarah Head takes on the part of Human Resources manager Philippa, and delivers a suitably silly little madam with a heart of gold. Gay Lambert as Dolly, and Stella Ross as Jean are a beautiful double act with their constant bickering, while Carrie Whitton as the slovenly Twinkle, and Roya Amiri as the dim-witted Anita, round out a first rate ensemble.

Laura Sheppard holds everything together, and has perfected Victoria Wood’s voice, body language and delivery to a tee, and her scenes with the outrageous Petula are utterly fabulous. I must also mention Peter Brad-Leigh as Bob, who pops up briefly and milks every single line for all it’s worth; give this man his own show, somebody!

David Graham’s direction is spot on, and this is a lovely, feelgood piece of unashamedly old-fashioned, and unfashionable theatre. The cast seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout, and every character has life. Wood is a very generous writer, and everybody gets their chance to shine. Some, in the case of Peter Brad-Leigh, simply dazzle!