Girl’s Night Out – Opera House, Manchester
Writer: Dave Simpson
Director: Richard Lewis
Reviewer: Margaret Kelby
The Public Reviews Rating: 
This adaptation of Paul Farrah’s original is entertaining enough – but if you’ve seen Willy Russell’s Stags and Hens, you may find yourself wondering where the rest of the play is.
Pete and Tony have just started working as strippers; unfortunately, Pete’s pregnant fiancée Jane, her sister Sarah, her aunt Sue and Tony’s fiancée Nicola have chosen the same club for Jane’s hen night – and the first night that Pete and Tony are to perform.
As the drink loosens tongues, we learn that Sue is having an affair; that Nicola is a compulsive shopper with sexual problems; and that Jane’s baby is, inevitably, not Pete’s. Act two fulfils the set-up of act one, with breakups and the (again inevitable) happy ending.
Essentially, that’s all the plot you get, and the characterisation is equally thin. The closest we get to satire or social comment here is Jane being eight months pregnant. The few moments of relatively serious, soap-like drama remain unconvincing.
That said, the whole production works hard to try and make you like it. Bethany Turner, Rachael McGuinness, and Amanda Bellamy all give good performances as female leads, although Shirley Darroch’s performance as Nicola really stands out. Ian Sharp (Tony) and Harry Capehorn (Pete) are an effective and believable duo. Mark Willshire and Joe Ransom – the other strippers at the club – manage to sketch their characters effectively despite having, if you’ll pardon the expression, smaller parts.
Which brings us to the stripping. If you like the idea of young men dancing and taking their clothes off, then this is certainly another reason to see the show; they do it well. Tracey Lane’s choreography is of the Fully Monty school, and entertaining of itself.
Simon Scullion’s set is sparse, with props that are re-used in multiple settings. This is especially valuable since the scene changes are far too numerous. The efforts of Richard Lewis, as director, to keep the pace going in the face of this are appreciated, but ultimately fail.
It’s not going to make you think, and I’m not sure it’s art. But if you are willing to overlook these things – if, in fact, you’re looking for a girls’ night out – then this one is for you.
Runs until 12th June
Tags: Amanda Bellamy, Bethany Turner, Dave Simpson, Girls Night Out, Harry Capehorn, Ian Sharp, Joe Ransom, Manchester, Mark Willshire, Opera House, Rachael McGuinness, Richard Lewis, Shirley Darroch, Tracy Lane
10:43 am on June 11th, 2010
In reply to your comments I saw the show in Liverpool and Mark Willshire charisma was more than enough to steal the show.It was a very enjoyable show.
4:49 pm on June 15th, 2010
Boring! not funny; set sparse to say the least; very amateurish, I have seen better school plays, sorry to say a complete utter waste of a night out.
11:27 am on July 8th, 2010
I totally disagree with Paulines comment. We had a fab night at the show in Dartford. The audience were totally up for it and everyone seemed to be having a great time. People were up on their feet dancing at the end, and all in all it was a good, fun girls night out. I would def recommend going to see it. All the guys were great, and the girls were very funny, but I have agree with Angie that Mark Willshire stole the show.