This dark comedy is set in a typical run-of-the-mill cafe in Liverpool, the brilliantly named, Scrantastic, where Mandy and Shannon, the two women running the place work, doing the mundane day-to-day chores needed, mostly a lot of cleaning up and cooking. Everything is mundane and samey until the day depicted in the opening scene where the two women are standing over a dead body, their boss, covered in blood. It all points to one of them being the murderer and they are in a frenzy deciding how to hide the body and clean up the mess.
On top of their dilemma, a number of people turn up at the cafe to add to the mayhem; two men with a grudge against the boss (Jay Johnson and Adam McCoy), a blind man selling badges who doesn’t want to leave (Anthony Gough) and a café regular who has a liking for Mandy and the skinny lattes she makes for him (Adam McCoy); Ben Phillips plays the café boss who as a dead man is literally pulled and pushed around the stage and shoved into cupboards and the back office.
Writer, Alice Bunker-Whitney has created a mad-cap scenario, almost a farce, with dream sequences embellished in a very scant storyline, heavily influenced by Scouse culture and humour. The production is somewhat panto-esque containing jokes about flatulence and lots of sexual innuendo.
The set is constant throughout the production, a typical ‘greasy spoon’ café in the heart of Liverpool; tables with red and white chequered tablecloths, a counter in front of a small kitchen complete with oven and kitchen utensils.
There were some sound issues during the production, mainly due to the female lead, Linzi Germain (Mandy) shouting far too loudly throughout, her voice is rather shrill and ear-splitting at times. Hayley Sheen played her more level-headed partner-in-crime, Shannon, who tried to keep her calm in the midst of the chaos which ensues.
The style of this production plays heavily to a niche Scouse audience, with a comedic script littered heavily with a lot of heavy-duty swearing and local Liverpudlian influences.
The chaos turns into a murder/hostage situation with a bomb threat, ending with very loud stage effects. The production is rather gory as there is a lot of blood on stage and on the performers; additionally there are some gruesome scenes during the second half, one of which is particularly stomach-churning, as such it may not be to everyone’s taste. The show ends on a high note thankfully, with singing and dancing by the cast who encouraged the audience to join in.
This production is directed by Francesca Goodridge and designed by Alfie Heywood with lighting design by Ian Scott and sound design by Kate Harvey.
'A Greasy Spoon' was first written as part of the Everyman Writers Programme in 2018.
The show has a 16+ age advisory recommendation as it contains strong language, some violence and adult themes. The production runs until 26th August 2023.
Reviewer - Anne Pritchard
on - 2.8.23
on - 2.8.23
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