What Would Helen Mirren Do?
By Josie Melia
The Lowry, 10 July 2010
The play, a monologue of many voices, was outstanding entertainment.
Principally, Anita Parry took on the role of one Susan Butterworth, a supermarket supervisor whose life changes for the better when she adopts Helen Mirren as a role model.
Parry began well and got better, and naturally she took on other voices as well. Here are your three samples: Slimy Steve, Susan’s Irish mother and disabled son. She was versatile, hard-working and vibrant. And she got Mirren’s gorgeous, neo-Heseltine, stray curl moment down to a T.
There was a lot of humour in this bright drama, and a lot of different kinds of humour to boot, eliciting belly laughs, chuckles and smiles of recognition.
We were content at the end. Our applause was sincere tribute.
What Would Helen Mirren Do? is playing next at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. Details here.
