This wonderfully funny show takes a nostalgic look at some
of the greatest ladies to have graced the stage and screen.
As the audience steps into the studio, they are immediately
transported into what spears to be a smoky jazz club, helping the audience to
get in the mood for what they were about to see. But it also allows them to
focus on brother and sister duo Ceri Dupree and Ria Jones constantly without
ever losing our attention.
The talents of Dupree and Jones really complement each other
from the very beginning, showcasing their love and interest in the ladies that
they have chosen to concentrate on for the show. Dupree for example has a
wonderful way of understanding the character that he is impersonating – even if
at times it can come across as slightly too bitchy in places (the whole Bette
Davis/Joan Crawford section for example) .
Meanwhile Jones has wonderful warm vocal skills that are
powerful and really hold the audience’s attention – such as when she is singing
Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Regrette Rien’ you can almost hear a pin drop.
However as positive as this is, it feels as though the show
goes on just slightly too long and towards the end it begins to feel slightly
tired. It feels as though it needs more focus in places and this is what slows
the show down – if they had focused on a select few of the ladies mentioned
then it would have kept the energy levels higher constantly through the show.
But this should not distract from how warm and affectionate
Miss-Leading Ladies is. The way in which the music has been arranged by Edward
Court allows the show to flow smoothly from one section to the next with ease
is perfect. It has been well put
together, with both siblings getting equal time on
If you are a musical fan then you certainly
don’t want to miss this and you will most likely finding yourself singing along
to quite a few of the songs in this uplifting and informative production.
Review by Emma Clarendon
Rating: ★★★★
