Penny Arcade: Longing Lasts Longer

Where do you start? I mean how do you define this extraordinary performance, if it is performance? Well I guess you have to define it as performance, it is after all a woman alone on a stage with an audience. But it’s like no other, it’s not stand-up comedy but it is very funny. It’s not a lecture, but there is a convincing sense of being educated. She’s not a preacher, but at moments there is a tangible sense of being at some kind of fevered religious rally. Penny whoops it up to a soundtrack of pop that cleverly links into her… well I would say script, but I’m not sure that the word covers what she do as she riffs on themes and draws us into the work, Brighton is in this, as are we. And I loved it! Why? Well it felt like Penny Arcade had invaded my head and rummaged around to find all the things that wind me up about modern life. She found my hatred of cup cakes, of baby buggies, of screaming kids and a world obsessed with youth. She confirmed my feeling that just because I am now 60, it does not mean that I am in any sense less valid than a 16 year old. I am just me, and Penny sent me on my way feeling very good about that.
This is one of the oddest shows that I have ever experienced, but I love odd and I loved Penny. I loved her voice, her energy and her mind. I laughed a lot but I clapped too, applauding her debunking of crazy urban myth and political correctness. She declared that mediocrity is the new black and I agree, which is why I will continue in my own life to wear colours as vibrant as my 60 year old mind. She started by telling us that her show had been declared by the critics to be a four star show. Well I’m sorry to dispute that Penny, this is not a four star show as you will see below.
29 May
Theatre Royal Brighton
Andrew Kay
5 stars