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Grumpy Old Women is a three-way lamentation pitched at a specific demographic. Can you not function without a list? Always in possession of a pack of tissues? Find that manners and public services have receded faster than your husband's hair? Even if that's not you, you'll recognise the character traits.
What rescues this 'theatrical HRT' from becoming twee is the script, co-written by Judith Holder (who wrote the BBC2 series) and Jenny Eclair, always one for nervetouching repartee. Richard Herring has cast an eye over it, too, as he did on Little Britain. Together they have pushed what could have been sagging PG entertainment to a pert, witty 12A.
Eclair is also a performer and croaks, tuts and pouts brilliantly through her grumbles. But she has wisely left the best bits to Dillie Keane, whose posh voice and superb comic timing made for two of the night's best moments.
The remainder deftly ticked the box of each middle-aged gripe: from boring partners to children who eat crisps on the way to school. The only person not having a giggle is Linda Robson, who never settles. It's comedy to take your mum to - but in this case, that's no bad thing. After all, you suspect that it'll happen to us all.
Until Jul 15, Mon to Sat 8pm, Wed and Sat mats 3pm, £15 to £30, £10 concs. Tel: 020 7494 5045.
Grumpy Old Women Live
