Barrel of fun, so don’t give up your Day job
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 28 October 2010
Desperate to be Doris, Oldham Coliseum
SILLY wigs, daft voices, stuffed dogs and hilarious costumes as well as the ability to poke unashamed fun at themselves, all add up to a barrel of fun in this 25th anniversary production by comedy duo LipService.
Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding are as comfortable as a pair of old socks — I mean that nicely, slotting neatly together on stage as would only be expected from two actors who have spent a quarter of a century working together.
They bounce off each other in a comedy routine which spans around two hours, with their quick wit, topical gags and portrayal of office antics sparked by an unsettling new manager who turns a long-established working routine upside down in the quest for efficiencies and bigger orders.
And they have drafted in Darren Southworth to play Dean, who works at the Pajama Game company by day and pursues his love of all things Doris Day by night.
The two women between them play everyone else, including the dotty dog-loving office worker Joy and IT man Ian, to Candida the clean-sweep manager and Valma the receptionist.
Joy is a member of the local amateur dramatic society, and tempts Dean to help out in “Calamity Jane,” based on a Doris Day hit. He is the one desperate to be Doris. he realises his dream when he ends up cross-dressing to play his heroine when the star succumbs to illness — and he is the only one who knows the words to all the songs
The three work well together, and soon had last night’s sell-out audience eating out of their hands.
Maggie as Joy showed perfect comic timing and her face was a picture, with her wry looks, surpassed only by the mask of horror when her cuddly office companions are consigned to the bin.
More comedy came from Oldham Coliseum Choir, who supported the trio not only with their voices, but came to the front of the stage to add their numbers on several occasions.
“Desperate to be Doris” runs until Saturday, and if you are up for a laugh — and a singsong, then make a date to see it.
