Greggs, Ant and Dec, Fenwick’s Window at Christmas and pease pudding - some things are just Tyneside institutions and a local icon that can be very much added to the list after another barnstorming performance at the Tyne Theatre this week is Miss Rory.
Boulevard’s glamorous and quick-witted hostess once again got out from behind her box at the city centre cabaret haunt to grace the stage on nearby Westgate Road and take her loyal and loud subjects on a hilarious holiday to the Land of Hope and Rory.
With all the pomp and ceremony of a State occasion and some jokes that would probably see her sent to the Tower, Miss Rory once again fired all cylinders when it came to well crafted and well executed cutting comedy.
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Referencing everything from Diana Ross’ performance at the Queen’s Jubilee to the pandemic, Prince Andrew and her own wedding to bag a Greggs discount, Land of Hope and Rory was a real joie de vivre and the kind of show that should be prescribed on the NHS to help remedy the tough and incredibly testing two years we’ve all had.
Anyone who’s ever been to Boulevard or a sell out Miss Rory show (she’s had a few now!) will probably take for granted the fact that there will always be a generous helping of inappropriate gags, some straight to the point observational humour at the expense of those brave enough to sit near the front and plenty of those moments where you’re not entirely sure if you should be laughing, but Miss Rory’s dynamic delivery makes it impossible not to.
However, Land of Hope and Rory was so much more than a stand up show, it was a spectacle. Queen Elizabeth may have had her four day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but this was a 'Platty Joobs' party for the people and an event where Prince Andrew was actually present, well by mention of his name anyway!
There were Miss Rory flags to be waved at the start and end of the show, a fabulous opening VT, a brilliant piece of marketing earlier in the day when a landrover carrying a HUN number plate causing a real stir with the parking mafia on Facebook, a balloon drop and even a resident brass band - the fantastic Band and Bugles of Durham ACF.
The finale was a Last Night of the Proms fit for the live laugh love generation as the evening’s main attraction led a mass singalong to a reworked medley of Land of Hope and Rory and Rule Britannia.
Well over two years her last performance at the Tyne Theatre, the North East’s comedy queen is back and her crown shows no signs of slipping anytime soon. The Countess of Comic Timing and the High Priestess of Huns, this was Miss Rory at the top of her game.
Her comedy shows just keep getting better and better and, with Land of Hope and Rory she threw the gauntlet down to any pretenders to the throne.
Regal, resplendent and royally raucous - here's to the next one!
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