Written by Anna Yarwood, Tai Remus Elliot and Ava Vaccari
Review by Eve Nugent
Picture this: five singletons in Milton Keynes are desperately looking for love. Where better to turn for help than Bucksomly Betrothals, the dating group organised by romance expert Geraldine Bucksomly?
Enter the subscribers.
First up is the bumbling Alan Rivers, a Bowling World Champion with a crescent-moon hairline, running on empty in the hope department for finding a partner. Next up is sexy Stephen, a flirtatious rake with a peculiar yearning for his own mother. Along comes Clive, picking his nose, bewildered by the world of dating. Jeremy follows, frightfully dorky with underwear pulled up so high it seems to have cut off the blood supply to his common sense. And finally, there’s Gary Garbonzo, resplendent in his white flares and impressive tache.
What follows is a gloriously chaotic series of match-making attempts, from frantic 30-second speed-dating, to Alan’s hot date at an Italian restaurant that goes spectacularly wrong when his date turns her attention rather enthusiastically to the waiter.
Beneath the silliness, the plot thickens as a secret feud emerges within the group. What begins as a seemingly straightforward search for love soon becomes something considerably more sinister, as buried grievances, hidden identities and a deep-seated desire for revenge begin to surface…
Written by Anna Yarwood, Tai Remus Elliot and Ava Vaccari, Bucksomly Betrothals is brought to life through a combination of sharp writing and improvisation from the whole cast. The result is a fast-paced production brimming with hilarity. Each scene flows seamlessly into the next, with the ensemble’s confident multi-roling ensuring that every new character feels distinct and memorable.
Vaccari as Geraldine is an absolute joy to watch, effortlessly captivating the audience with her larger-than-life presence. Remus–Elliot is deliciously gorgeous in drag, while Ava Godfrey demonstrates impressive versatility, presenting as a completely different character each time she appears. Yarwood’s dry delivery is another consistent highlight, landing each line with impeccable comic timing. Lastly, Jude Rogers handles a toppling set mishap with admirable flair, while Amelie Berry is delightfully sleazy as Stephen, bringing generous charm to the role.
Hilarious, chaotic and magnificently lustful, this show is a match made in theatrical heaven.
Magnificently Lustful
Bucksomly Betrothals runs Venue 38, Studio at theSpaceTriplex at 21:05
Running time – Fifty minutes
Review by Eve Nugent (contact@corrblimey.uk)
An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Her primary devotion is acting, predominantly at Bedlam Theatre with her fellow students, but also with French group ‘Les Escogriffes’ who perform annually at the French Institute of Scotland.
Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she enjoys playing the flute, piano and guitar. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!
