Review - 'Shakers'

The Tea Bar, Basingstoke, 26 - 27 March 2014

Written by John Godber, Directed by Ross Harvie

The final week of March saw Basingstoke town play host to two spring shows from The Proteans’ dramatic company –the all -female ‘Shakers’, at the Tea Bar, and the all-male ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’, staged at the Creation Space. If the latter was a somewhat darker, cynical piece of theatre, the former proved a nice contrast, not only in terms of gender, but for its lighter, comedic tone.

Director Ross Harvie created a hugely enjoyable two hours of theatre, adapting John Godber’s 1985 script into the parameters of an actual cocktail lounge. ‘Shakers’ proved an appropriate choice for four new female members of The Proteans – (Lydia Thompson, Charlie Thomas, Emma-May Williamson and Jodi Heath), who all evidently had great chemistry together on stage in their guises as cocktail waitresses, in addition to a miscellaneous swathe of questionable clientele, both male and female. Thus we were treated to a group of posh, over privileged men out on the town (a particular highlight), Essex girls on a hen ‘do’, and various other loutish drunkards.

The music played a key component throughout the whole production. The use of Eighties electro pop was used to breathtaking effect, no doubt evoking memories amongst the more mature members of the audience! I must confess that I have always enjoyed a favourable bias for this genre and era of music and thus I was humming happily along to the sound of the Human League and a-Ha throughout the evening.

The costumes gave the whole show an air of genuine authenticity, each of the girls employing punk hairstyles and a variety of garish, multicoloured frocks (one of which I have on very good authority was bought and worn in 1987 and remains in impeccable condition). Incidentally all four actresses should be applauded on the speed with which they initiated their many costume changes, no small feat considering the tightness of the venue.

Indeed, the locality itself was precisely the element which worked most effectively for this play. By staging it within the unusual set up of The Tea Bar, it acted as proof that great theatre should not simply be confined to a traditional auditorium or studio, but works just as effectively within the context of a night out on the town.

‘Shakers’ made for a highly refreshing evening and succeeded theatrically as an amusing and visually stunning production.

Liam Elvish