Hi °C | Lo °C Part autobiography, part sketch, part history lesson, part impressions — Jan Ravens’ show was all of these and more.
A whole two hours in fact, and you would think with all of this thrown in it would have been a highly entertaining two hours.
When Ravens bounded on stage in full Anne Robinson guise and delivered a convincing and hilarious impression, I was convinced it would have been. I was wrong.
Though there is no doubt she is hugely talented at what she does, her talent doesn't stretch to a two-hour, one-woman show.
With the help of her trusty slideshow, Ravenstook us through the history of impressionists, and though a lively and congenial host, she was more like a cool, funny teacher at school.
But I was not there for a history lesson. When I go to a comedy show I want comedy, comedy in the form of side-splitting laughter.
Most of the (older) audience seemed to enjoy it but I couldn't help but think they were laughing more because they recognised who she was impersonating rather than on account of it being funny.
As she went through her most famous impressions of Fiona Bruce, Margaret Thatcher, Ann Widdecombe and more female politicians than you can shake a stick at, they all seemed to morph into one.
Oddly enough my favourite impression was of her mother. And I don't even know her. I'd rather watch Spitting Image.
RACHEL QUIGLEY
