Park Theatre has made its smaller stage Christmassy by reviving Charlotte Jones’ 1998 play Martha, Josie and Chinese Elvis.
It feels like an antidote to the current turbulent political situation, and the play serves up some light, old-fashioned, and at times surreal laughs during the two-hour show.
The comedy, set in Bolton, features Martha (Sioned Jones), an Irish cleaner who has OCD and needs to count to five before she can do anything, a tired “can’t be chuffed” dominatrix, and Lionel, her client who likes wearing women’s dresses. The content feels dated – some of the OCD jokes teeter on uncomfortable and ironically repetitive, while the storyline’s slightly wild and implausible twist feels a little like something the writer dreamt up to beef out the play.
Jones’ play won the Pearson Best Play award in 1998, and what might have washed then is a little trickier in today’s more astute and woke climate. However, the acting quality is strong, and the cast lifts a script that is, in places, tired.
Much of the play is centred on a birthday party Lionel (Andrew P Stephen) throws for dominatrix Josie (Kellie Bachelor), who has lost the passion for her profession. She has two daughters – twins – but one is dead and the other has mild learning disabilities. However, Brenda-Marie, played beautifully by Charlie Bence, brings the most light and depth to this play. She shines, has great comic timing and also has a slightly intense, but also adorable passion for ice skating.
One of the most bizarre but also funniest parts of the play is when Lionel invites an Elvis impersonator (Matt Lim) to the party to regale the women (who all love Elvis) with some songs. Lim brings humour to the production, with his nuanced facial expressions as he forgets crucial lyrics and tries to channel Elvis’ ‘fat’ and ‘younger’ period.
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Lim plays an increasingly world-weary character as the night goes on. He is chained to a coffee table without consent, openly criticised for not looking much like Elvis, and looks more and more despondent and out of place as revelation after revelation comes tumbling out.
His story arc is the strongest in the play – a former Vietnamese boat boy, he is encouraged by Brenda-Louise to be more true to himself and reveals himself as a talented singer.
There are some extremely strange moments, for example when Brenda-Louise pulls a tent out and hides in it in the middle of the living room, but anyone who has sat through a dysfunctional family Christmas will probably sympathise with this.
Robert Wostenhole directs this madcap drama, which has some slightly forced emotional points contrasting with surreal comedy throughout.
It helps to have had a few wines before you go and see this, as it’ll make the humour flow a little more, but generally, an enjoyable way to spend an unrushed two hours close to Christmas.
Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis runs at Park Theatre until January 4.
Words by Eleanor Ross.