Another gem of a play at the Camden Fringe, written by my fellow member of Player-Playwrights, Jan Harris. It's a classic 'odd couple' one-acter involving a faded and sozzled Hollywood star and a mousy fan. Jenny Logan as the Johnny Walker-loving Ezzlie is decanted by taxi at Fran's two-up, two-down home somewhere in the back of beyond near Carlisle. Her agent, desperate to get rid of a woman who has been living in five star hotels but doesn't believe in paying the bills, has taken up the offer of Ezzlie's adoring fan Fran to have her to stay. Ezzlie's constant demands for more ice cubes and more Scotch at first knock Fran off balance, but as the story continues the worm turns. Finally the odd couple find a new equilibrium.
Jan Harris's writing is an absolute delight, creating two perfectly rounded characters and a well-structured story with a central turning point. In the hands of director Matthew Gould, the comedy gets the chance to breathe, the costumes are wonderful and the pacing is faultless. Jenny Logan as Ezzlie conveys just the right mixture of arrogant bravado and vulnerability, while Janice Day's performance as Fran combines naive innocence and a degree of steely determination. This is a two-hander about showbiz that deserves to become a classic like Ronald Harwood's The Dresser. It runs at the Gielgud Theatre, RADA until August 13.
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