RITA BIX: AN EVENING WITH

Rita Bix, Lady Rita Bix I should say, is something of a newcomer to the stage but in that short period the character has certainly come to life. In this new show Rita hosts her friends from Eastbourne’s burgeoning theatrical community and lets them give voice to their talents and preview their forthcoming productions. It’s a clever and entertaining format, well staged and engaging throughout with moments of comedy, silliness and bingo, yes bingo!

But the link pin to the evening is Rita herself, a lady of a “certain” age with a colourful back story. It soon becomes evident that she is the black widow of The Meads, one of Eastbourne’s chicest areas. But in her past she has been a beauty pageant queen, a holiday campy entertainer and a cruise ship chanteuse. And she can certainly belt out a song and has chosen her numbers with both skill and style, from rousing ballads to high camp belters.

There is a poignant thread through the comedy too of acceptance and inclusivity that rings so true for the audience. This is heart-warming stuff, well balanced and well delivered.

Her guests, for the most part, one has clearly not learnt his lines, get a chance to display their own skills and, using a chat show format, they can feed Rita with prompts that allow her to deliver a stream of gags and comic asides.

But what is really impressive is that unlike so many female impersonators, Rita Bix does not rely on shock tactics, does not employ foul language or crude jokes. Rita delivers a charming seaside postcard style of comedy that is suitable for all but the most prudish and sensitive of audiences and I applaud that.

Andrew Kay

26/3/22

The Grove Theatre Eastbourne

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