THEATRE REVIEW: Housewives On Holiday - The Garrick Playhouse, Altrincham. Greater Manchester.

The poster for ‘Housewives On Holiday’ shows three women having fun in a sunny holiday setting by the sea, suggesting a mainstream comedy play or maybe a farce. Arriving at the theatre to find only women above a certain age congregating in the bar and foyer led to concern that the play had been replaced by a Chippendales show but closer examination revealed there were one or two men around (although each one was coupled up). This was clearly not going to be just a run-of-the-mill comedy play!

A bright but simple set of a multi-coloured beach house set the scene as the premise was soon revealed that one of a trio of three female friends had won a prize on a tacky TV quiz show to take herself and two friends on a Spanish holiday. This was not going to be a Club 18-30 type experience but the girls were setting out to have fun, notwithstanding numerous jokes about middle-age hang-ups. What followed was a funny and witty exploration of the highs and lows of going on holiday from the un-attached, middle-aged female perspective.

Aside from the main plot, there were frequent diversions into what were effectively sketches as the girls imagined themselves in different situations from being in old age on an inter-planetary space holiday to depicting a less than luxurious forest camping trip. There were also great impersonations from the trio as wine-making monks (who sounded suspiciously Italian considering they were in Spain) to amorous Spanish hotel staff. The funniest was probably when each imagined themselves as over-sexed macho guys doing their best to impress.

The play was performed by Josephine Partridge, Maureen Nolan and Sarah Dearlove (stepping in for writer/actor Julie Coombe), making for a well-balanced and varied trio, each bringing a different angle to middle-aged femininity. Sarah Dearlove is a superb character actress, bringing over many funny observations of the ‘older woman’s perspective’, from trying on risque swimsuits to indulging in demanding physical exercise. Maureen Nolan represented the more reserved approach to life changes, remaining dignified without taking many risks nor perhaps surprisingly, any solo singing (considering all three were in the mood for dancing!). Josephine Partridge was the somewhat younger, up-for-anything type, whether tackling water sports or going on a date with a potentially lecherous local. Parker, aside from acting is also a physical trainer and nutritionist. The show gave her ample opportunity to display her trim figure through demonstrating demanding physical routines such as high-kicks on the trampette.

The constant flow of jokes, at times quite near the knuckle, were very much from a woman’s point of view and it was soon not difficult to see why the theatre was virtually devoid of men, as the enthusiastic audience lapped up the humour. There was a feminist slant to the show, which was well-observed whilst not having any hints of antagonism to males or complaints against forms of patriarchy. This is what made the show so funny; it was just pure observational comedy without any political or social agenda. The spirit of the show however was certainly assertive with the music being largely famous ‘girl-power’ songs by artists such as Madonna, The Spice Girls and Shania Twain.

‘Housewives On Holiday’ was a very funny show, combining music and physicality with observational comedy. It was a potentially scary place for men as might be expected in an audience comprised almost totally of excited women, but it was a show either sex could enjoy even if coming from different perspectives.

Reviewer - John Waterhoiuse

on - 28.6.22