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Sunday Mail Review 3/7/05

MUNT MILKS LAUGHS WITH COW OF A CHARACTER

After seeing Silly Cow, it’s hard to know exactly who Ben Elton hates more, actors or journalists.
Silly Cow is his heavy-handed but ultimately very clever slash at the Fourth Estate and the at-times precious profession of acting.

It is a cutting, uncouth comedy with some very black moments as devilish columnist Doris is forced to face some demons of her own one imperfect day.

Director Robert Andrews keeps the setting simple and has a mostly capable cast tackle this unconventional show with enormous gusto.

Pamela Munt plays the mega-bitchy Doris, who has trampled too many people on the way to scoring an appearance on Parkinson the night all the action takes place. With pushed-up assets and acid tongue, Munt takes a while to slip into the role, but really comes into her own in Act Two.

Steve Parker continues his impressive development as a character actor with a convincingly nasty performance as sly magazine editor Sidney, who has big plans for dastardly Doris. Parker’s grasp of accents and his comic timing get the most out of his jousting with the double-dealer.

Sean Venning is suitably drab and unremarkable as dour accountant Douglas, but Mark Drury is out of his depth in the plum role of Doris’s toy boy, Eduardo. Too many good lines went west in Act One as he rushed through his dialogue.

However, it was Ann Portus as Doris’s mousy personal assistant, Peggy, who really captured the Elton idiom with a measured and precisely insignificant portrayal of the unremarkable secretary. Portus plays the perfect flappable foil to Munt’s intimidating antics and their scenes together flow well.

After a slow Act One the cast came out blazing in Act Two and nailed the difficult finale with plenty of energy.

Elton is a very clever writer and Silly Cow is not as silly as it seems, as Doris gets the most delectable denouement imaginable.

A packed audience gave the play a great reception for a tricky job that was well done.

Silly Cow finishes on Saturday.
Bookings; 82270505 or BASS.
MATT BYRNE