What I liked
The economy of the production choices: except for a chair and a grave marker, the entire show comes out of a large wicker basket.
What I didn't like
I know that I missed some of the text when my brain took wrong turns trying to follow the cockney accent and there wasn’t time to rewind the syllables and try again because we were already into the next stanza.
My overall impression
An astonishing performance and fascinating story. I’ll take it on faith that the play is written in a strict rhyming meter, because Melanie Johnson delivers it so gracefully and playfully that you would never guess. Her portrayal of Nell Gwyn and a handful of other characters — no, actually more interestingly: her portrayal of Nell’s portrayal of the other characters — is a treat. It took me a few minutes to tune-in to the accent, but once you are in her world she’s a delightful guide to late 17th century English theatre, social classes, politics, and court intrigues. And as Nell tells stories about the people and events in her life, a vivid portrait emerges of the story teller herself.
Having immensely enjoyed Ryan J-W Smith’s screwball verse comedies in previous HFF years, I was unprepared for this smaller, quieter, one-woman gem, which is a delicious balance to the larger pieces. It is smart, funny, moving, and always entertaining.
