TRAFALGAR STUDIOS 1

Shirley Valentine is dead tired of her dreary and monotonous existence as a Liverpudlian housewife. She finds herself regularly talking to her kitchen wall which has become better company that her insensitive husband Jo. Shirley both insouciantly and poignantly reveals her innermost thoughts and fears over a pan of eggs and deep fryer of chips. She longs for the good old days when Shirley Valentine still had her spark.

Shirley's best friend Jane comes to the rescue with an offer of an all expenses paid holiday to Greece. Soon bags packed, freezer stocked with ready meals, and note left on the table for her poor hubby and she's off. Her fortnight of sea, sand and sunshine gives her a new awareness of who she is and she even finds a little holiday romance.

Meera Syal delivers a captivating performance as Shirley in the one character play. The mixture of anxiety, mischief, wit and wonder in her dialogue is infectious.

After the interval the set is transformed from suburban kitchen to a Greek Island Paradise. For a minute I felt like I'd been transported to the Prince of Wales Theatre and I half expected Shirley to burst into Chiquitita. But fortunately this was not the case and Shirley had only exchanged her confessional kitchen wall for an understanding Greek rock.

Shirley Valentine could be criticized for being a product of a time when women's opportunities were fewer. Russell's play does not hold consensus with the feminist movement's idea of liberating the women from the kitchen sink. Shirley is not set free from her role as Saint Joan of the fitted units as her servility continues even in Greek Island paradise. Where she continues to be confined to her Utopian romantic idea of love which never quite equates to what she is lead to expect. The strength of this Willy Russell's play lies in his vivid and unpatronising portrayal of women.

Glen Walford's production is a perfectly delivered human comedy not to be missed.

Review Date: 12 July 2010