Shirley Valentine Duke of York Theatre review

★★★★★

Reviewer - Philip

It is not every day you leave a theatre feeling utter joy for the character you have just gotten to know over the course of 2 hours. But this is a life-affirming story that resonates with people around the country. Shirley Valentine is a sensational one-woman play about a very normal woman and her need for excitement and the chance to be her old self once again.

Sheridan Smith, who plays the titular role, is a tour de force in this piece by Willy Russell. As Shirley Valentine, Smith takes the audience on a journey through the thoughts and feelings of a middle-aged housewife who just longs to relive her youth and find a part of herself she has lost. From the moment she walks onstage she has the audience eating from the palm of her hand. With a conversational style, Smith has the audience tittering, guffawing and weeping in a matter of moments. The story follows Shirley Valentine as she navigates an unhappy marriage where her husband expects a model wife and mince for his tea, instead of chips and eggs. Her friend Jane gives her the opportunity to go to Greece for a girly getaway which she eventually decides will be good for her. Time alone to find herself again. If only she had told her husband!

While away, Shirley has time to think and breathe and grow as a person. Remembering the person she used to be. Smith is absolutely sublime! Taking you through the inner works of someone’s mind as they try to find themselves is not an easy thing but Smith accomplishes it without ever taking a misstep and without burning those chips or eggs! Smith’s portrayal is one of truth. Paired with Willy Russell’s words, Smith delivers every line as if she has just had the thought herself. True pain and sadness, joy and ecstasy - Smith feels them all. When watching her weave the narrative it is easy to see why she is regarded as one of the greatest actors of our generation.

The set is fairly minimal however is used well to achieve maximum impact. Although Act 1 is set in a conventional kitchen, it is in full working order which helps paint a picture of Shirley’s life at home. Telling her story as she completes mundane daily tasks and talks to her wall. In Act 2, the stage transforms into a Greek seafront with a small table and large rock, the only pieces of set on stage. The use of both the wall and the rock are important in telling of Shirley’s loneliness as they dwarf Smith in size and help create a parallel between the action and Shirley’s solitude.

Matthew Dunster directs the piece with care and craft. Giving Smith a set of actions to complete during each section of the monologue. The methodical working of the action must in part be there to make sure Smith memorises each section of the script correctly. However it also really helps to draw the audience into the world of this mother at her wit’s end. Dunster’s movements highlight the hidden superpower every mother in the world has, the ability to have a natter and complete a neverending list of tasks. Dunster also thoughtfully includes pauses in the movement to allow the emotion to find its way into each and every word.

Willy Russell has created a real thing of beauty in Shirley Valentine. It is not flashy or action-packed. But it is a rare gem. His writing is witty and razor-sharp. Finding the real sticking points in life and adding them layer upon layer to this play. At the heart, he gives courage, hope and new life to his character. He manages to write a 3-dimensional character who makes her own choices - on her terms, without calling all the shots. She is a vivacious character so full of life by the end that it makes me wonder what she is up to now all these years later. That should tell you all you need to know about the quality of Russell’s work.

With such a limited run, I’m sad this piece won’t be seen by more as what has been created with brilliant writing and perfect casting is wonderful.

Shirley Valentine is performing at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London until 03 June. Further ticket information is available here.