This blog post was updated on October 11, 2018.
Direct from New York for a limited run at London’s Charing Cross Theatre is Blind Date starring Canadian comedienne Rebecca Northan as Mimi, a “lovable minx of a Parisian clown.”
The play starts with a dejected Mimi introducing herself to the audience and explainign that she’s been stood up for a blind date. Making the most of her situation, Mimi shrugs off the no-show blues as well as many of the traditional boundaries between performer and audience, and turns her attention to the crowd seated just in front of her for a quick replacement. Hilarity (punctuated by moments of poignant insight) ensues. Or at least, it did during the performance I attended.
I caught a recent staging of Blind Date a few weeks back and am so glad I did. I’m more than happy to recommend this show to anyone looked for some light hearted entertainment. I wouldn’t even mind seeing the comedy again myself, honestly, especially considering that all performances promise to be different with a new (and haplessly unsuspecting) leading man every time.
During the performace I caught, Mimi’s man for the night was Tim, an easygoing estate agent with his real-life girlfriend in the audience cackling and back talking as the play carried on with her man as its co-star. Tim took his surprise acting role in bashful stride (even seemed to be basking in the spotlight a few times). Tim was in safe hands with Northan too, who was able to get the most out of her new found romantic lead and adeptly build rapport and chemistry as the impromptu duo ad libbed their way through a series of outrageously funny dating and relationship-y situations. By the end of the night, Northan had transformed an unassuming but willing guy into a true hero in the eyes of everybody in the theatre.
Blind Date runs until mid July at the Charing Cross Theatre, in Craven Passage arches just off Villiers Street between Embankment and Charing Cross stations, WC2N 6NL. The theatre is convenient located within walking distance of great hotels, popular central London attractions and a number of Tube stations. The nearest Tube stations are Embankment and Charing Cross (each is hardly more than a minute’s walk from the theatre).
For more information and to book tickets (a very wise idea if you’re hoping to catch this show!), visit their website.
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