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The Razzle Presents: The Working Man's Club at Latitude 2010
Live Review

Having reinterpreted the office party for an entertainingly immersive show at the Barbican Centre and Edinburgh Fringe, the same team have now had a bash at the working men’s club; an atmosphere that’s surely ripe for reinvention.

This first outing at Latitude has a marvellous spirit, but doesn’t go nearly far enough in creating an all-round experience beyond the turns on stage, huge fun though these undoubtedly are.

Chris Green – the man behind Tina C and Dame Ida Barr – here channels the spirit of Eighties comic Duncan Norvelle to play compere Derek Diamond, a man with an intriguingly hinted-at back story that involved an injured child and the need to change his stage name from Daz Vegas. As you might expect, the character’s well-formed, and Green sets the perfect tone for the night, inviting audience member to make use of the pool table and buy tickets for the meat raffle.

His frequent collaborator Ursula Martinez plays Dazzle’s deranged stalker Maureen, with a surprising twist for anyone not aware of the signature move that defines her career. Also in the line-up is Australian circus performer Jess Love, here performing an inventive, wonderfully witty – but all-too brief – burlesque turn.

The night, though, belongs to Mrs Barbara Nice, the housewife superstar of the North West, utterly at home in an environment that could have been built for her. She banters affectionately with the crowd, leads the singalongs and generally celebrates the joys of life, however modest. Grabbing a bargain at TK Maxx is source of infinite pride for this middle-aged mum, as warm and sunny as a fortnight in Benidorm.

In fact, this pretty much was the Barbara Nice show, with a few side attractions thrown in. But you can see how there’s plenty of potential for this fine idea to be extended into a whole word the audience can be absorbed into, entirely separate from the Phoenix Nights route of cheesily bad entertainers.

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Yes it still works Mrs Nice. Sunday night at the Plaza was fab, went home all warm and chuckling.

Michael Bike, Stockportfordshire., March 2007

Just checking this still works as I haven't had a comment since 1986 x

Barbara Nice (mrs), March 2007

What an absolutely brilliant ac

Caroline, March 2006

Definitely a crowd pleaser. Thumbs up.

Rob, March 2006

Swining hilarious! I've just seen Barbara at Bent Double at Komedia and loved her! So funny, down to earth, and even a little stage diving thrown in for good measure.

Sarah, February 2006

Come on all you TV companies, give Barbara Nice a TV show. She is the best thing since my kitchen extension

Bernie, December 2005

The funniest comedy act I have ever had the pleasure to see. She certainly brings a big beaming smile to my face.

Stuart, November 2005

I saw Mrs Barbara Nice at the Glee in Birmingham as part of the Dove women's tour, and she was easily the best. She commanded the stage as soon as she appeared on it. I was crying with laughter all the way through. Her singing and dancing is fabulous! The best bit was the stage-dive. The women around me (waiting to catch her) didn't believe she would actually do it, but she did! I will definitely see her again.

Cait, September 2005

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