Skip to main content

Review of Sara Pascoe Vs History at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

There was a rather superb magic moment shared by those present at Sara Pascoe Vs History last night that I have reservations of whether I want to think it was totally spontaneous or not. I like to think that we have been the only ones to share that moment on Miss Pascoe's tour, but then I also like to think maybe not, as I would feel sad on other audiences not to have experienced it. Suffice to say it involved last comers and music. I hope you enjoyed it if you were there, despite any dignity that may have been lost as a result. I know I did (lost any dignity that is).

Anyway, to business. This was my first time watching a live stand up show and on this first experience perhaps I may go again. Miss Pascoe has a really rather delightful stage presence and an incredibly sharp wit. The loose premise of the show is that she quite frankly lays her life history and love life bare while intermingling the history of the title. So as she talks of such things as to whether she needs her friends once she has her man. she somehow then of all things links this into Adolf Hitler's love life. Then we might swing into some Freud and with a little bit of vagina action as well. It all gets rather graphic and intimate at times, but always constantly amusing, although maybe the squirmy version at times. There is also comedy from social comment gained, in particular a really rather great spin on the Page 3 controversy. I could see it work, actually I would like to see if work. You had to be there.

It is all very lady comedy in theory, but I didn't notice many gents not having a laugh most of the time. It was as I say all very rude in content, but I took great pleasure in the fact that this was no potty mouthed comedy. Hardly did a crude word pass Miss Pascoe's delightful lips during the show, so therefore take note those immature acts that have to add a swear word every other. If you think you are funny, there really quite clearly is no need for a f or three, as proven by this show.

It was an extremely funny evening from an up and coming performer that I am sure (hope) is really going to go places, even beyond QI! When the opportunity arises I shall certainly be back for more and I recommend you having a look as well. In the meantime, I am now going to prepare for the pleasures of March 1st...

««««

Performance reviewed: Thursday 5th February, 2015 at the Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton.

Sara Pascoe Vs History was performed at the Royal & Derngate (Royal) on Thursday 5th February, 2015 only. Her website for future tour dates can be found at http://www.sarapascoe.com/

For further details about the Royal & Derngate visit their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Review of Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders - The Redemption of Thomas Shelby at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

The Rambert Dance Company is the oldest such company in Britain having first performed in 1926. However, despite this, this was my first encounter with the group in my ten years of theatre-going. Coupled with this, it was also my first encounter with Peaky Blinders , having never seen the show, and only knowing a few vague things about it. My companion for the evening however was very familiar with the show, allowing some background behind the show. It turns out though,  Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders - The Redemption of Thomas Shelby needs a little more than a good bit of knowledge of the show, as despite this production having incredible style, there struggles to be a cohesive structure to the show and the storytelling. Much more than other dance shows as well. The first act does a whistle-stop tour of the first five seasons and while it is a feast on the eye, and on the ear, it gets extremely confusing at times. The second act is freestyle and drifts away from the stories tol...
Read more

Review of Dear England at Milton Keynes Theatre

James Graham’s award-winning play Dear England has been around a while now, and indeed, when it was first staged in 2023, some events depicted here hadn’t even happened. Therefore, the pen, likely keyboard, of Graham has been busy adding what amounts to a further epilogue, and it now amounts to the complete package of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as the poisoned chalice that is England football manager. For those who may have missed it, Dear England tells the story of Southgate’s journey from his inception into the manager role in 2016 to his eventual departure and knighthood in the New Year’s Honours of 2025. However, this play, while centred on the beautiful game, is more than about kicking a ball and managing and coaching it. Writer Graham mines from the source material a piece that very much explores what it is to be English and, with Southgate’s approach to coaching, what makes the brain tick. To that effect, enter psychologist Pippa Grange, and the journey for Southgate to become ...
Read more

Review of Friends - The Musical Parody at Milton Keynes Theatre

The One Where 2026 starts in a world of confusion. And so, 2026 is upon us and for my first trip to the theatre this year, one of my most significant reviewing challenges was to occur. Touring to Milton Keynes Theatre is Friends - The Musical Parody , based, unsurprisingly, on that little American show that ran to a few audience members for ten years. However, I confess that I was not, and have never been in that audience, never having seen a single episode of the show. However, always up for a review challenge and doing my due diligence by having a Friends superfan as my plus one, I headed to Milton Keynes with anticipation. For those unfamiliar with the show, I could say I can’t help; however, a quick review of some of the information you might need (thanks, Google and my plus one). Running for ten years between 1994 and 2004 with 236 episodes (quiz question, you are welcome), the main characters consisted of Phoebe (ditzy, writer of sad songs), Monica (in possession of an unfeasibly...
Read more