With the title based on popular television show ‘Sex and the City’, you instantly envision a group of giggling girls discussing men and their sex lives – a woman’s play.
At first glance, with groups of females predominately filling the Royal Court Theatre, you think you’re right… WRONG.
Sex and the Suburbs isn’t just for women, mocking and criticising men. The play delves into the personal lives of both sexes, all trying to find love or a spark in their relationship – with Liverpool’s renowned humour a constant theme.
Described as ‘a show for anyone that’s ever been in a relationship’ there is definitely something for everyone to relate to, whether it’s an internet date from hell, a persistent partner or simply a look for love that’s run its course.
With the stage set up as Diamond FM’s radio phone-in show, Lindzi Germain stars as radio host and ‘The Princess of Problems’, Penny Crowe, with Claire Sweeney taking on the role of co-host and Liverpool’s very own ex-pop starlet, Willow Wallace.
Along with extremely camp producer Rory Reynolds, played impeccably by Carl Patrick, the three take calls about relationship problems, dating nightmares and lovers’ tiffs – dishing out advice and sharing their own personal problems along the way.
Throughout the show the three act out the phone ins – seeing Patrick switch from the camp producer to a 20-year-old scally, Germain move from The Princess of Problems to ‘Annie the Super Sexpert’ and Wallace shift from co-host to unlucky-in-love Cheryl, with other characters along the way.
After co-writer Mandy Muden fell ill just before the opening night, stand-in Germain puts on a performance to be proud of, with her take on various charters filling the theatre with laughter and applause.
Directed by Ken Alexander and penned by Muden along with first-time writer Sweeney, the show is a triumph, encapsulating the audience from start to finish.
All in all, Sex and the Suburbs is a play full of Liverpool humour, which gets the audience involved throughout, whether it’s through characters, songs or getting them up on stage to discuss their own dating disasters.
As former Brookside actress Sweeney admitted, it is a bit rude, funny and tongue-in-cheek – a fun play that keeps the audience laughing throughout.
Sex and the Suburbs runs at the Royal Court until June 7th.