The A-Z of Mrs P is a new musical which tells the story of Phyllis Pearsall, the lady who decided to create the A-Z after becoming lost on the way to a dinner party.
The show is quite clearly defined into two halves; the first utterly charming and compelling. The staging is unique and the company transforming from train to tube is a lovely concept which adds another dimension to the story and is very aesthetically pleasing.
The music and lyrics are incredibly sweet and Isy Suttie plays the lead with a simplistic charisma which left the audience grinning, her voice matching her portrayal of the character who I can only describe as endearing.
As the show reaches the second half, a darker side seems to appear and focus shifts to Mrs P's parents, played by Francis Ruffelle and Michael Matus, both with very strong voices and a commanding presence. The story and characters take a much more dramatic turn with only a hint of the earlier charm remaining, but it makes an interesting contrast.
The flashbacks in the show are so seamless that sometimes it can take a few moments to understand at what point in time the events are taking place, but overall the story proves an interesting account of both the life of Mrs P and her parents.
The remaining cast is made up of Stuart Matthew Price, Ian Caddick, Sarah Earnshaw, Max Gallagher, Sidney Livingstone and Dawn Sievewright, all of whom are flawless in their roles and their voices blend beautifully in the well written score.
The show takes place at Southwark Playhouse which creates a unique experience. With only 5 rows of seats either side and a performance space in the middle, the audience are incredibly close to the performance and it's easy to lose yourself in the story. The only downfall of this is the worry that you might accidentally trip one of the members of the cast, or be hit with any of the props (which I am advised had happened) so perhaps front row seats are not advisable, although it is an incredible experience to be so close to a production.
The A-Z of Mrs P does seem to be a show that can split an audience but overall the unique appearance and charm of the characters and score make it one i'm glad to have caught on its limited run.
