Natalie Bassingthwaighte in Shirley Valentine – Review
Melbourne’s Athenaeum theatre was a buzz on Friday 31st January 2025 with an electric and high spirited audience, eager to see Australia’s beloved Natalie Bassingthwaigte in Shirly Velentine.
As Shirly Velentine, Nat Bass invites the audience to experience and feel the emotions, struggle, fear and hopes of a middle-aged working class housewife who dares to dream of something more than her bitter lot in life.
Within the first ten minutes, everyone in the audience can truly see and relate to something innately familiar in Shirley, maybe its mum, sister, wife, neighbour, or an foreboding analogue of what ones own future is becoming.
Delivered entirely as a monologue, the intimate setting and emotion was all too real, with each audience member feeling like they are seeing and experiencing the highs, lows, pain and excitement of a loved one, peering behind the curtain with all laid bare in what at first is the family kitchen, but what really is a representation of what is holding Shirley back.
Truly a 4D experience, with the sounds and lighting and even smells, all enhancing the mood and tone of the scene. The elevations of the positive upbeat moments where Shirley is reminiscing about a funny experience, or anticipating her trip to Greece is equally contrasted by the audiences inability to not feel for Shirley in the darkened, fearful moments where desperation, anxiety and self-defeating, fleeting optimism is eclipsed by her circumstances.
Deeply authentic, eloquently and humorously written. There were no negatives at all. With a vigorous and well deserving standing ovation for Natilie Bassingthwaighte, a thankful and ecstatic audience was full of positive energy and sentiment.
When all is said and done, Shirley Valentine is an exceptional play, performed by an exceptional actor.
Summary: Deeply authentic, eloquently and humorously written. There were no negatives at all. With a vigorous and well deserving standing ovation for Natilie Bassingthwaighte, a thankful and ecstatic audience was full of positive energy and sentiment. When all is said and done, Shirley Valentine is an exceptional play, performed by an exceptional actor.
5
Wonderful
About the Author
Scott De Lacy Scott has a professional IT background spanning over 18 years, is an hobbyist electronics designer, talented musician, holds qualifications as a trainer and experience in emergency and community services sectors. He reviews Movies, PC and XBOX One games, and hardware.
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