Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis by Charlotte Jones

Last night, Saturday 20 February, I decided to forego the Spanish football and pop down to Hull Truck to see a performance of Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis.  This is a co production with the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and an excellent show it is.

Josie is a career dominatrix working from her front room.  She is starting to feel past it, her heart is not in it or celebrating her 50^th birthday.

Josie has two daughters; Brenda-Marie who is a bit special, possesses ancient wisdom and dreams of ice dancing and Shelley-Louise who is, ahem, dead.

Martha is the devout Irish cleaner who is more than a little OCD and leaves the house spotless but is she avoiding something?

Lionel is a dry cleaner who is one of Josie’s most loyal clients and has a penchant for wearing ladies clothes.  Moreover is more like a friend to Josie and on finding it’s her birthday decides to lay on an impromptu party at hers.  He arranges for a special surprise of an Elvis impersonator (Elvis being Josie’s idol) from the local kissagram agency.  Timothy Wong is a novice Elvis impersonator, who doesn’t even know all the songs but he is .....The Chinese Elvis.

This is a laugh out loud comedy with adult themes and a few surprises which I will not spoil for you.  Like all great comedies there are serious points too with themes of having the self belief to achieve, the courage to embrace transformation and ultimately redemption.  This is a play that could have you crying with laughter or sadness but ultimately ends with an upbeat feeling.

Christopher Chung is excellent as the titled Elvis playing bewilderment convincingly, but Anna Wheatley steals the show as Brenda-Marie in a demanding role which was nicely judged when it would be easy to over play it.  Overall the cast put in a fine performance.

Its run at Hull Truck continues until 5 March and then it transfers to the Octagon in Bolton from 10 March until 2 April and I recommend you catch it, it’s a quality production and you won’t be disappointed!

Credits:

John Branwell as Lionel

Christopher Chung as Timothy Wong/Chinese Elvis

Isabel Ford as Martha

Natalie Grady as Shelley-Louise

Lynda Rooke as Josie

Anna Wheatley as Brenda-Marie

Director: Mark Babych

Designer: Patrick Connellan

Sound Designer: Matt Cloves

Lighting Designer: Elliot Griggs

Movement Director: Jon Beney