Review: Shirley Valentine

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Being a huge fan of the original 1980’s film, I was more than intrigued to see it recreated as a ‘one-woman’ theatre show on the Everyman stage.

In the first scene, we meet Shirley Valentine, a charming and loveable character who is more than a little discontented with her role as a housewife.
Played by the talented Claire Sweeney, who is the only cast member in the play, Shirley dreams of a life beyond her mundane existence. She wants to ‘sit by the ocean sipping wine in a country where the grape is grown’.
The opportunity to achieve this fantasy arrives when her friend Jane unexpectedly wins a holiday to Greece.
Full of self-doubt and worry about her authoritarian husband’s reaction, Shirley is reluctant to entertain the idea of leaving the family home for two weeks abroad. That is until she has peeled just one too many spuds, been ridiculed by family and friends about her age and realised the girl she once was has gone.

Her desire for happiness is reignited and with her passport, tickets and money she jets off to find adventure.
During her holiday, love seems to be on the cards but will it be with the man of her dreams or herself?

This comedy/romance makes for a delightful evening at the Everyman until the 22nd of this month.

Written by FD

 

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