Despearte to be Doris 2009
Dean dreams of cowboy dolls, wakes up and gets the bus to the office.
“LipService’s send-up of this world of in-fighting, last-minute dramas and local rivalries is wonderfully waspish.”
Charles Hutchinson, The Press
Desperate to be Doris was inspired by a New Year’s Eve party Sue went to in Chorlton, where the hostess suddenly said, let’s put on the Doris Day hits. Everyone sang their hearts out, they were such cracking tunes and Sue realised she knew the words to half of them. So Desperate to be Doris was born. It was originally entitled Doris for a Day, but solicitors informed us that Doris Day could potentially sue us (if she could be bothered). We had 12 community choirs across the UK learning 4 part harmonies, choreography and wearing silly costumes. It was an absolute joy. A production of it has just happened in Canada where more joy was had. In our production, the glorious Darren Southworth played Dean who is desperate to be Doris and sang like an angel.
Sue: “ It’s fair to say Maggie struggled with choreography as witnessed in the clip of Steamed Up. Just watch her out of time clapping!”
SYNOPSIS:
“Dean works in the office of The Pyjama Game, a nightwear retailer with quite an odd collection of employees, all played by Ryding and Fox. However new manager Candida Pryce, who learned everything she knows from self-help books, wants to get rid of clutter like desks and Post-It notes, replace their whole product line with a lounge-wear product called Let's Play described quite accurately by neurotic employee Joy as a 'baby-grow' and change the name of the company to 'Sshh!'. Worse still, the local amateur operatic society Out Of My Range (based in Whalley Range) where Joy goes to relax and persuades Dean to come along to, has employed a certain local female manager with 'fresh' ideas to direct its new production of Calamity Jane.”
British Theatre Guide
“Surreal interludes aside, the script has very little to do with Doris Day. It's more like LipService's take on The Office. The action takes place in the headquarters of a nightwear firm, which is severely rationalised by a new executive (played by Ryding) who first banishes all clutter from the desks, and finally the desks and chairs themselves. "Oh no," Fox complains, "we're going to have to think on our feet."
Alfred Hickling, The Guardian
