**** (4 stars)
“A wonderful summation”
How do you celebrate the life of a much-loved British Treasure who died far too young after bringing joy, fun, and laughter to millions through her work?
You get Paulus the Cabaret Geek and pianist Michael Roulston [of Fascinating Aida] to bring her songs to life, and laugh yourself silly for a couple of hours in the company of fellow-devotees, that’s what.
As Paulus quips at the start, it takes two men to do the job of one woman [and only half as well]. It’s almost impossible to put into words just how talented Victoria was. This bouncy northern woman, whose figure did not conform to the sylph-like dimensions expected by the entertainment industry, and whose accent was most definitely not the expected RP, brought a new way of being funny to our screens in the mid-80s. A keen observer of people, her uncannily accurate understanding of feelings and motivations, she was never vicious in her humour – always kindly, never belittling even the silliest of people, laughing with, not at them.
Her way with words was wonderfully witty: she would build a song with ever-increasingly ridiculous phrases which culminate in something so outrageously funny that you simply have to howl with laughter again and again. She could also do quiet tragedy, pathos, sympathetic understanding of human suffering, with warmth and generosity. One of the most moving things I remember seeing was Victoria as Housewife, 49, a play based on the wartime diaries of one of the many people who contributed to the Mass-Observation project. Understated, self-deprecating, unsparingly honest – such a contrast to the bouncy, sparkly pianist with a beaming smile we usually think of.
Paulus definitely had the bounce, the sparkle, the energy, and Michael definitely had the fabulous piano technique. Together they gave us a selection of Victoria’s songs and jokes, switching from humour to pathos in the blink of an eye, and celebrating both a talented artist and the legacy she has left in the camaraderie that grows between perfect strangers once they realise they are all ardent fans. Mention is also made of the wonderful women who joined her in so many dramas – Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, and so many more: there seemed to be no end to Victoria’s talents, and her generosity in writing fabulous parts for her friends.
Linking all this, Paulus told of the transformational effect on himself as a lonely, chubby boy of eleven who was simply different from everyone else at school. Her shows were something he could watch with his mum and much older sister. Finding someone who was also different from the accepted norm of entertainers of the time gave him the courage and confidence to start performing – and look at him now! A shared love of Victoria’s humour led to a friendship with Michael Roulston – and look at them now, too!
Impeccable diction in an age where word endings are usually swallowed; a wonderfully flexible and expressive voice; a delightfully outgoing personality – all these attributes belong both to Victoria and Paulus. I should also add, a bloody good memory – all those words! And in songs like Northern Song, which is simply a random collection of phrases associated with ‘being northern’, there’s no narrative line to help you along the way. So many outstanding characters brought to life – the sad, lovelorn eleven-year-old silently yearning for the sixteen-year-old with whom they share nothing but a daily journey on the school bus; the lonely widower who’s just lost his wife and keeps making two cups of tea in the morning; the outrageous goings-on of a Saturday night out; the sad realities of a modern romance.
We laugh with her at the ridiculousness of life – but are never brought down into gloom and despondency. We are encouraged to get real, to give up the relentless fight against ageing, and live for now. One of my favourite songs [new to me] from the evening was the joyous catalogue of all the women as whom she wanted to be reincarnated, culminating in the woman whose Christmas preparations include putting her sprouts on in November…
If you have a dream, go with it: all there is is now… What better life advice could you ever be given? And what a wonderful summation of Victoria’s own life.
What a lovely way to end a show.
But
That wasn’t the end
We did get all we had been waiting for: the Ballad of Barry and Freda, aka Let’s Do It
Words fail me
It was brilliant
What a way to end a show, what a way to celebrate Victoria Wood.
LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND: the music of Victoria Wood, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, RUN ENDED by UK Tour continues for more information go to: www.lookingformefriend.com
ScotsGay Arts 