• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Rumpy Pumpy at the Union Theatre

November 23, 2016 by Paul Hegarty Leave a Comment

Review of: Rumpy Pumpy at the Union Theatre
Produced by:
Barbara Jane Mackie

Reviewed by: Paul Hegarty
Rating:
3
On November 23, 2016
Last modified:November 23, 2016

Summary:

A well intentioned musical that makes you chuckle like a seaside postcard but with an edge to make you think.

More Details

Rumpy Pumpy, by Barbara Jane Mackie who is the writer, composer and lyricist of this doubty tale is a fun romp with a historical twist. The battling home-county ladies of the WI, with the help of the brothel madame, take on the establishment and seek to have prostitution legalized. Previously showcased at the King’s Head this production now boasts of large cast and enough plot to take your breath away, as it snaps between the lives and adventures of a range of sex workers.

Much fun is to be had with the rudery; but along side the dirty-postcard innuendo there was often a more serious point to be made about personal safety, exploitation of working women and their conditions – not to mention the sheer NIMBY hypocrisy in society.

Women come and go at the Blue Saloon, trying to make ends meet. These women, from right across the social spectrum, often hold down more than one job as well as work at the brothel and they are taken care of by Madame Holly, played with great gusto by Linda Nolan. She drives her scenes along and makes every effort to give, what is at time a challenging subject, a touch of levity.

Though managing the social commentary, the topical issues and the fun were not always as finely tuned as they might be. The ongoing friendship of the two WI ladies, Jean and Shirley, played here by Louise Jameson, as a determined open-minded individual without an element of the do-gooder w

Rumpy-Pumpy-2-James-Charlton-Tricia-Deighton-Louise-Jameson-Photo-Scott-Rylander

Rumpy-Pumpy-2-James-Charlton-Tricia-Deighton-Louise-Jameson-Photo-Scott-Rylander

as refreshing and her companion, Tricia Deighton, was a splendid foil for Jameson both physically and vocally as she delivered many of her lines with just enough of a nod and a wink, which allowed the audience to appreciate the lightness of touch this production was reaching for – it is a musical after all! But at times their own personal journey was lost as the action rollicked to and fro in the Blue Lagoon.

 

Certainly, searching for the perfect brothel allowed for saucy fun to be had across a range of characters and it was refreshing to see this predominately female cast take charge and explore the material in both a knock-about and full hearted manner. The singing was solid and in a bigger space the company would really have opened up and given it even more value as the space felt so limiting, at times but it was easy to imagine the company numbers having greater production values as tunes were both catchy and the ballads suitably heartfelt.

The piece presents panoply of characters, fleetingly sketched and quickly recognized as the cheating husband, dodgy vicar, dubious DCI, single mum broke law student and even a tough lesbian detective, all of whom exploited and betrayed the women. Home life did not seem much better for some of these women with inferences of abuse both mental and physical but as we journeyed with our home county observers we discovered a world of compassion, support and understanding, where needs must and judgment was left at the door. The perfect brothel seems to be one where women should feel empowered, respected and capable to organize their own lives, which is as much a commentary on society as it is on the ladies of the night. Of course that was one the myth firmly knocked on the head as these ladies are busy 24/7.

Liberty Buckland’s strong vocals and Sally Firth’s perky characterisations impressed but in truth, although the entire company pushed the piece along with verve if does it feel, at times, as if refining and shaping the piece further would not go amiss.

This lively piece can be seen at Theatre Royal Windsor 1st to 5th November transferring to the Union Theatre 14th 19th November.

Author: Paul HegartyPaul is a reviewer and an experienced actor who has performed extensively in the West End (Olivier nominated) and has worked in TV, radio and a range of provincial theatres. He is also a speech, drama and communications examiner for Trinity College London, having directed productions for both students and professionals and if not busy with all that he is then a teacher of English.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Union Theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Ian Nicholas talks The Elephant Song

Ian Nicholas is a theatre producer, running OnBook Theatre alongside director Jason Moore. He talks here about their next production, [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Hotel- a new play by Polly Stenham at The Shed, National Theatre
  • Spotlight On: The London Clown Festival
  • London Clown Festival Coming to, well, London
  • Willy Hudson on Welcome Home
  • Athena Stevens on seeing what you’ve turned a blind eye to
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Ed Fringe 2016: Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons at Summerhall Roundabout
  • Southwold Summer Theatre Season 2022
  • Interview with Theresa Heskins, co-director of "Astley's Astounding Adventures"
  • VAULT Festival unveils 2018 programme!
  • Paul Hegarty
    Contributor

  • November 23rd, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!