22 November – 18 January
There are certain recurring, regular pulses towards the end of the Bristol year – the clocks going forward of course, the Christmas decs going up on Park Street in early October, the ferries stopping for the winter months etc. But over on West Street there’s another phenomenon that can be relied upon to lift the gloom of the darker months – the Wardrobe blockbuster. Notting Hell is the latest in a long line of its classic top-grossing film and classic story mash-ups that have always impressed this webzine.
The Wardrobe has consistently managed to find Bristol’s funny bone. Tuning in to the city’s penchant for poking fun at authority and levelling up on inequalities, it manages to do this with a ribald and occasionally absurd sense of humour, elements of surprise, moments of magic and madness but always with spirited performance. Notting Hell : The Greatest Love Story In The Underworld is no exception.
Hugh Grant’s faltering ‘will-it-won’t-it-happen’ affair with Julia Roberts in the original film version has proved low-hanging fruit for the Wardrobe, who have clearly delighted in tweaking the plot to include dastardly pacts with the dark lord. And while there is obvious piss-taking going on here, amongst the take-downs are some deeper moments. Yes, we feel Julian’s frustration with himself and Lexy’s desire for love – the players are never other than invested in the moment.
In this iteration of the tale, Stephanie Houtman plays (and sings beautifully) the part of successful and sexually confident American mega rock star Lexy Chase. But she hasn’t always been this way. Be careful what you wish for Lexy! The very excellent Tom England is every bit the jibberingly gauche and underachieving English man-boy Julian Worthington, while the effortlessly funny Shôn Dale-Jones plays his personal-hygiene-challenged flatmate, Prick, with great flair.
Aping the film’s use of voice over, we are introduced to Julian in his livid pink themed rom-com bookshop, a set that sits against one corner of the acting space. Those with fond memories of Notting Hill will enjoy the Wardrobe’s occasional homage to the original – interaction with the locals for example, with hilarious riffs on time passing. Later, scenes with Julian’s sister Poppy (Adiza Shardow) as the ‘last brownie’ game unfolds and when Lexy’s awful other boyfriend appears (Dale-Jones), chime with the film’s script. Shardow is every bit the wide-eyed Beelzebub one could have wished for as Prick facilitates Julian’s journey to the underworld in a desperate chase to rescue his beloved Lexy.
Director Helena Middleton has about the size of a small living room in which to send her players to Hell and back. Supported by some excellent lighting by Chris Collyer and sound effects by Jack Drewry, she manages to take us all on a convincing and breathless wild mouse ride to the Devil’s lair.
★★★★★ Simon Bishop, 28 November 2024
Photo credit: Jack Offord
