Reviews and Perspective

I woke up feeling very excited this morning after only a few hours sleep, then got a message from a friend saying my review had come out. Now the age old saying is 'don't put too much weight in reviews', but come on we all do.

It's the equivalent of sitting by the phone waiting for 'johnny' to call after that 'swell time' you had, and if he doesn't call we all feel a little sad/let down/lame and if he does then...well...if your me...you wake up everyone in the house at some un-godly hour and laugh yourself silly!

Yep I'm keeping some perspective. Below are the two reviews I have received for 'How to be a Lady', I personally like the second one best, although 'hilarious mime and innovative use of puppetry' is a quote I will be definitely be using in future ;)

BuzzCuts - by Sarah Coull

How to be a Lady is a quirky take on charm

school for thirty-something’s – those who have woken one day to realise their life is beginning to resemble that of Bridget Jones’ far more than they would like. Created and performed by Tess Waters, this physical theatre show depicts the journey of a modern woman trading the vodka and undies for an apron and corset, in an attempt to find one’s ‘inner lady’.Stumbling into the audience at the beginning of the show, this woman far from resembles ladylike. Waters isn’t afraid to let it all hang out, quite literally. In the intimate space of The Loft, the audience is left cringing and feeling slightly voyeuristic when she drunkenly strips down to her underwear, unaware of being watched.

The majority of the show is dedicated to her attempt to become a lady, which is supposedly easily achieved by listening to an instructive cassette. The voiceover of a proper English woman teaching the dos and don’ts’ launches Waters into a medley of how to wear the right bra, find a husband, and be a good wife. This 1950s housewife theme, however, feels a little uninspired and overdone, even with Waters’ hilarious mime and innovative use of puppetry.
Going from trash-bag, to 1950s housewife, to Germaine Greer in less than an hour, this show leaves you slightly confused, slightly nauseated, and left wondering whether modern day women can be both independent, and ladylike. Whilst it was good for a laugh, the bizarre performance would probably only appeal to those who related to Bridget Jones’s Diary, or simply enjoyed its honesty.

The Age - Helen Razer - 4.5 Stars

"In the instant our heroine emerges from a nimbus of vodka, cheap perfume and despair, I was fairly smitten. If the spectacle of a lush being sick into the void is your idea of a good night out, you'll be infatuated too.

The slapstick narrative sees Waters crawl out of a hangover and into ladylike ambition. A series of self-help and motivational cassettes provide the soundtrack to an internal war. Then, there is the matter of a mambo with a marital aid. This is far better viewed than described

Via means of top-drawer physical comedy, Waters easily succeeds in achieving that which eludes more earnest feminist performers. To wit: she reminds us that femininity is a performance; a set of protocols. And she manages to do this with her tights half off. Waters may of may not be conversant with post-feminist theory. It doesn't really matter because she's funny as hell."

Perspective is a good thing....then again so is enjoying the spoils and getting to second base with johnny!