Botox and Custard Creams

Nicci Hopson, Writer and Director, what a corker you have written and directed here, worthy of a West End theatre!! I could leave it there, but I want to put all praise into this review.

Take eight brilliant actresses and one nude man and you have success for a perfect musical comedy, and this was certainly just that! I laughed I cried, I chuckled to myself all the way home to Rochester. I didn’t notice even the road closures on the way home - all I had on my mind was Botox and Custard Creams. Nicci, you chose a cast to die for, their characterisations of all were superlative, each one having to act, sing, and dance. We had ‘Calendar Girls’, ‘Stepping Out’ and ‘Six ‘rolled into one. The song and dance numbers, pop songs interlaced with some incredible new songs. Your Musical Director Chelsea Hennessey got the ladies to deliver them with the right amount of deliverance and diction. I also enjoyed the choreography: no big, complicated routines but just the right amount of movement for these ladies to cope with. All praise to Bev Locke the Choreographer.

Anna Hadden (Linda) Megan Roberts (Siobhan): I hoped you liked Custard Creams? Gemma Peel (Jane), Karen Brown (Karen), Chelsea Hennessey (Stacey), Daisy Shambles (Rosie), Erin Joste (Trisha) and Becky Gallagher (Michelle)…all of you were superb in your allotted roles. I could not put a feather between you. We were warned about the F word, but you all coped with it extremely well and we the audience loved you for it. The life drawing male was very brave (no name) - we will never know if he was completely naked, but the lady next to me said ooowww that’s a nice bum. How the ladies in the cast kept straight faces I don’t know, movement of their heads all together had everyone in stiches. 

Nikki you have written and directed a masterpiece of theatre, also interjecting it with music made it even better. Your actresses did you proud. A simple set and excellent props made this show swiftly move along, all brought together by Stage Manager Alex Ward. A nice clear programme and lots of info on the cast and the Ariel theatre Company.

Thank you, Susanne, for letting me review this flawless production of a newly written play by Nikki Hopson - looking for the next one Nikki..Thank you all there for treating me so well, Ariel Theatre.

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