Venue magazine review, 26 September 2008

Review Bond Girls

THEATRE Roll over James, farewell Felix Leiter: TIm Massey's 'Bond Girls' puts 007's female allies firmly in the spotlight for a cynical comedy drama set in World War Two. Outside the seedy Smoke and Mirrors nightclub, there is chaos (submarines, avalanche, air raids or machine guns, depending on the sound guy), but inside the three femmes fatales are preoccupied with detangling the circumstances leading up to their arrival, as the normal codes of ' girl talk' are cracked to reveal their deeply personal stories. The Brunette (Georgina Landau) is Bond Girl personified, resplendent in velvet -throated loveliness. Her high notes are counteracted by The Blonde, or Bambi (Claire Skelcey) in acerbic key, her frosty demeanour entirely in keeping with the Cold War atmosphere. Rachael Fagan, meanwhile, steals the show as proud KGB agent The Colonel. Fabulously Russian and the 'pooper of parties', her vodka-guzzling lesbian tendencies both embody and mock the stereotype, but most of all she's just downright funny. The only interruption from the world outside comes when naive WREN Muriel Wright, played flawlessly by Lucinda Holloway, bursts into the room to provide one answer, if not the answer, to their shared puzzle. There's a clever nod to the Austrian slopes featured in the forthcoming Bond flick, and a smattering of groan-worthy film puns make a well-placed appearance in the denouement. Massey's new script appears as quick, witty and smooth as any Fleming film, with the requisite doses of soluble cyanide and champagne. Full permission to shake and stir the genre granted! (Nicky Yeeles)

****

BOND GIRLS IS AT THE ALMA TAVERN THEATRE. BRISTOL UNTIL SAT 27 SEPT.