Any females who are currently single – and have been for a while – might find Maddy Anholt’s new show a little uncomfortable to watch. I myself can claim to be, erm, proudly independent for pushing four years now, and this painfully honest take on dating and the single life made me want to sink into the seat cushions.
#Desperate is a wry look back at some of the more unattractive, self-centred and frankly vile fish in the sea that Maddy’s encountered through internet dating.
Even the men in the audience will recognise the types. It’s really easy, as Maddy has a clear talent for acting and impersonations. She recreates each thoroughly awful man with minimal props, letting the versatility of her voice and body language shine through. Not only are her accents spot on, she does actually sound like a man at some points. That’s dedication to the craft if ever I saw it.
Audience participation is key to several parts of the show – if you’re a man and you decide to sit in the front row, you’re in for a real treat. The unsuspecting bloke in our audience got rather more than he bargained for, and left with the biggest smile on his face. I’m not sure what would happen if it was an all-female row. If anyone wants to try that out, let me know how it goes.
This show was billed as a work in progress, and I was expecting something far less polished than I actually saw. Apart from the very occasional slip of the tongue, it feels more or less finished. The sound effects and background music were perfectly timed, and the costume/prop transitions went without a hitch. Wherever #Desperate shows next, make sure you see it.
Follow Maddy Anholt on Twitter @maddyanholt1, especially if you’re a man as I’m sure she’d love to hear from you!
