Press review of The Stripper 2009
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The Stage
Wednesday 2 September
review by Mary Redman

Richard O’Brien’s musical team moves this show from decadent American B movies to the cool jazz and mean streets of pulp fiction’s Los Angeles.

Rodney Ford’s ingeniously contrived multi-level and multi-purpose sets create tenements covered with printed pages of the original novel, topped off with palm trees. All crowned by Barry Robinson’s excellent band, tootling away on the roof to accompany the songs.

The weird Arkwrights, owners of a strange lonely hearts club, are played by Gay Soper, who has a surprise show-stopper song and Richard O’Brien.

Siubhan Harrison’s eye-catchingly memorable Sherry Mendez seduces Jonathan Wrather’s detective hero Al Wheeler, as he performs A Man of Steel while he strips. This wide-eyed, cool and attractive leading man knows exactly how to deliver a song.
Sparkling Emma-Jayne Appleyard’s gazelle-like professional stripper Deadpan Dolores knows she really does it because I Love the Sense of Power. Jack Edwards is a scene-stealer as creepy, cackling flower shop owner Harvey Stern, wringing all the tremulous schmaltz from big ballads Hearts and Flowers and I Confess. The old O’Brien touch is still there. What starts as good, clean fun suddenly becomes thoroughly enjoyable naughtiness.

Matthew Eagland’s great lighting underlines the drama as director Bob Carlton emphasises tongue in cheek, deadpan dialogue, loaded with irony. A cartoonish look to the perpetual twists and turns of the plot includes a Hockney-blue pool with two synchronised swimming cuties. The premiere is entertaining, naughty fun - what’s to stop it going to the West End?

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