Split personality shines in Splendid new Soho Theatre

Mark “I felt like she was my other half!”

Christine: “Hi Mark. You left your shoe at my house!”

At the Grand Opening Night of the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow on Friday the 2nd May we were treated to an exceptional performance by Natalie Palamides in her show Weer at the exceptionally opulent theatre in Walthamstow. With a background as a clown, Natalie’s show is based on a 1990s Rom Com.

At the rear of the wide stage is a sign indicating it is 1999 and New Year’s Eve at the cusp of the Millennium, a date when we can remember where we were but not necessarily who we were.

We see what looks like a fight at the side between a woman and a man, pulling and pushing each other until they fall onto the stage. They are having an argument about separation, commitment and memories. We know this as they are dressed differently and speak with different voices but they are the same person played by Natalie Palamides, wearing the half and half costume so she looks like long haired Christine in a high heel from one side and bearded Mark in half a pair of trousers and a trainer from the other.

She has enormous skill in quickly turning one way to be female and the other to be a man, they hold conversations, slap, and try to strangle each other. Kissing is difficult. Each individual has their own personality and hang up “Why won’t you say you love me?” “I,I…., lets change the subject”. Later they carry out various simulated sex acts all to the audience’s great laughter and enjoyment. The props all are used, including a deer with a detachable head and a shower. She cleverly involves audience members in the story while circulating round the theatre. It is obvious that the performance has extensively toured in the USA and UK, to arrive at this slick, polished, very funny, show.

When it first started, I wondered how long the performance was going to last and whether she could maintain the momentum. In a performance of about 90 minutes, she never lagged. Such physical energy! There is even a passing homage to Romeo and Juliet with a death scene where each wakes multiple times, finds the other dead, and commits suicide.

This beautiful fully restored Grade II listed building was in recent years an abandoned Granada Cinema, The building is famous for having been frequented by Alfred Hitchcock during its time as a cinema. It was built on a site where films were shown as early as 1896.

Soho Theatre Walthamstow is set up to have plenty of different acts for short periods with tickets starting from £15. Weer runs until the 10th May and deserves five comic stars for originality, inventiveness and verve from Theatrevibe the theatre site that doesn’t do stars!