Veronica Lee
- Journalist
Press clippings Page 28
Review: Anne Edmond, Soho Theatre
Happiness is a wonderful thing, but sadness has its own secret world.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 8th January 2016Sometimes the simplest things work best. Car Share is essentially a two-hander about fortysomethings John and Kayleigh; Peter Kay is grumpy singleton John, the manager of a Lancashire superstore, Kayleigh (Sian Gibson) one of his staff whose life, despite her ambition and hard work, seems to be going nowhere. Forced to share their daily commute by their employers, the two at first seemed ill matched, but through the six episodes a touching love story emerges - and the audience see long before them that John and Kayleigh are made for each other.
It was fantastic comedy too, with many of the harder laughs coming from the radio station Kayleigh insisted John's radio should be tuned to - Forever FM - with its atrocious local ads and a slew of Eighties hits they sang along to. There were also wry laughs from the contrast of John's world-weariness with Kayleigh lack of worldliness, not least when she was terribly confused that a man whose handle on a dating site was "Pussy Lover" was not fond of cats.... I initially had my doubts about the fantasy sequences, but theye were sparingly and well used. It's an exquisite piece of work - beautifully written by Paul Coleman and Tim Reid, with contributions from Gibson and Kay (who also directed) - a subtle, slow-burn romance that made viewers laugh and cry, and demanded to be watched again immediately to savour its worth.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 31st December 2015Review: Catherine Tate's Nan, BBC One
Nan is a brilliantly observed character, a game old bird who comes out with an occasional cracker.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 28th December 2015Review: Bill Bailey, Vaudeville Theatre
If there is a theme, it is to take enjoyment in the world around us.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 12th December 2015Review: Ed Byrne, Theatre Royal, Winchester
Outside, Looking In started life at the Edinburgh Fringe and Byrne has reordered parts of it, and the show benefits greatly from the adjustments
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 24th November 2015Josh, BBC Three review
It's horribly bland and difficult to see how Josh can avoid suffering the ignominy of lasting only one series (Edmondson, whose previous sitcom outing was in Ben Elton's execrable The Wright Way, may want to have a chat with her agent). But it's directed by David Schneider, and next week Edmondson's real-life mother, Jennifer Saunders, joins the cast as Kate's mum. Two reasons to tune in to see if Josh gets into its groove.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 12th November 2015Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse: Legends! - review
The comedy duo celebrate 25 years of their partnership with a new 'very funny' performance.
Veronica Lee, The Independent, 27th October 2015Review: Michael McIntyre, O2
The mega-popular stand-up's Happy & Glorious show is entertaining but not inspiring.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 12th October 2015Review: Alan Carr, touring
Alan Carr has titled his latest live show Yap, Yap, Yap! Because, he says as the show opens, everyone has too much to say these days, much of it - such as the stuff on Twitter - not worth listening to. Coming from the host of Channel 4 chatshow Chatty Man, that's comically rich. But such is Carr's genuine likeability that the audience overlook that and settle in to enjoy the evening. I wish I could say I enjoyed it as much as they did.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 1st October 2015Review - Sam Simmons, Soho Theatre
Nothing in this hour - not even a jar of olives or an iceberg lettuce - is simply as it appears.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 28th September 2015