A sneak peak at the dress rehearsal

Today I got the wonderful opportunity to watch the dress rehearsal of York Theatre Royal’s latest production, Up The Duff. Watching a show’s rehearsal process is always a treat. It offers an invaluable insight into the dynamic development of a play’s production, from a mere bunch of ideas to an actualised show. With just a day away from the opening performance, the dress rehearsal of Up The Duff demonstrated its endearing potential as a show which manages to encapsulate that difficult mixture of comedy and tragedy. You’ll want to laugh and cry within the same scene.

The audience at tomorrow night’s opening show has a delight on their hands. Up The Duff’s cast of engaging and recognisable characters, from the charmingly gobby teenage mum Jess to the beautiful and elusive Kizzy, manage to exhibit the joys and pains of what is about to become the biggest moment if their lives. Director Damian Cruden has done a superb job in securing the gritty realism of pregnancy combined with its comedic nuances, especially with the inclusion of midwife Sheila’s husband, Graham. He provides a diverse, male element to the opening scenes, and reminded me a little too much of my own middle-aged father when insisting on buying trivial items in B&Q as they may inevitably “come in handy”.

A particularly interesting aspect of the show is the musical interludes, which emerge at the end of each scene. They provide an entertaining snippet of tongue-in-cheek pop culture reminiscent of Mamma Mia’s infectious humor. As Charlotte pointed out in her earlier posts, the show is certainly one to be enjoyed by mothers and daughters.

Laura Connor