Live Event: Mam I’m ‘Ere

Mam, I’m ‘ere!

Say it quickly…
NOW do you get it? Mamma Mia?
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
Or even (if you are me) ewwww…

I love ABBA, but that film. YUK. So it was with some trepidation I ventured forth to lovely Liverpool to celebrate Mrs Twiggy’s Birthday (founder of the Tasmanian Tease Bonzer fan club).

I’d never been to The Royal Court in Liverpool before, and was quite amazed to see how it’s set up like an old 1950s style Cabaret club; row of booths and chairs, encased in red velvet where you eat a meal (or not) and then watch a show. I’d only ever done this once before, 25 years ago in Las Vegas, so it was lovely. We all ate (there was 7 of us) and the food was lovely (I had ‘Scouse’, for our far away readers, please google, or just take my word for it, heaven on a plate with beetroot), and an apple crumble cheesecake, also lovely. The drink was extremely reasonable (£13.95 for a bottle of wine, £1.20 for a lime and soda), and the staff were all really nice.

Yes, I’m giving you the whole experience because this isn’t JUST a show, it is, an ‘experience’, the sort of night out that includes a bit of everything and I hope it encourages more people to go!

There are 2 places on earth where mother’s have the special name of Mam; Wales and Liverpool. So from the title alone it was obvious this was going to be a take of Mamma Mia. The Royal Court have been offering this sort of entertainment for years, and while the titles of the show’s may appear ‘Liverpudlian-friendly’ the comedy is universal. The story is basically the reverse of Mamma Mia; a baby abandoned by her mother, is left with the Dad (Andrew Schofield) in a milk crate. Dad then moves to North Wales and opens the Boogie Wonderland caravan park. Those of us of a ‘certain age’ will remember the gorgeous Andrew Schofield from Alan Bleasdale’s 1984 TV series Scully and playing Johnny Rotten in Alex Cox’s Sid and Nancy. He was one of those cheeky/quirky actors and here it gives it his all as the herione’s Dad ‘little Dave’.

All the cast are great, and it’s obvious they’re all enjoying themselves as they sing and dance their way through a bag full of 70’s disco hits. There are very few jokes that miss the mark and I laughed non-stop all night (and sang and shuffled my bum to the music). The story itself is your basic ‘everything is great, oh no, now its crap, and here comes the happy ending’ but it’s done with such enthusiasm and love that it’s extremely funny, but mainly warm and human.

I am really looking forward to my next visit to The Royal Court Liverpool, if you live within travelling distance treat yourself to a truly great night out, good food, cheap drinks and a funny, happy show!

Huge thanks to Andrea Twigg for a great night out (happy Birthday) and to Karen Lez (Taztease fanclub manager), Jodie, Amanda, Rita, and Aunty Marje.

Cast:
Eithne Browne – Brenda
Helen Carter – Julie
Paul Duckworth – Alf
Michael Fletcher – Si
Hayley Hampson – Diva
Jamie Hampson – Diva
Rachel Rae – Sally
Andrew Schofield – Dave
Alan Stocks – Barry
Keddy Sutton – Mandy
Dancers from RARE Studio
Writer/Director – Stephen Fletcher
Designer – Mark Walters
Musical Director – Simeon Scheuber
Choreographer – Lindsay Inglesby

Review by Tina (co-host of 60 Minutes With)