Review: Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs' Tails - Work in Progress (Cavendish Arms)

Review by Noah Penn

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Writer and performer Emma Richardson welcomed an audience into the early stages of her work this weekend, presenting her work-in-progress show Slugs, Snals and Puppy Dogs’ Tails for a one-off engagement at the Cavendish Arms.

This one-woman show, fully titled A Letter To My Unborn Child: Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails (P.S Please Don't Become a Serial Killer), is written and performed in the style of a very relaxed stand-up comedy act. As the name suggests, there is a lot to unpack, however Emma brings real cohesion and energy to the scene, talking the audience through every thought process, coupled with witty writing and comic timing. Conceived from her own current perspective as a pregnant woman, it takes us through her thoughts of ensuring a safe, happy and loving upbringing of her soon-to-be baby boy, while tackling the dangers and worries of the outside world.

Richardson has a history of comedy writing and performing, with a decade of experience behind her. A semi-final place in Sky Studios’ “Funny Women” competition, in addition to her 12 awards for her short films Mixed Reception and Ghosty McGhostface are a testament to her artistic abilities which are showcased in this performance. Furthermore, the brave and clever use of audience interaction to visually tell her story brought more humour and added to the “stand-up” appeal of the show.

The use of props was another smart way of telling the story beyond just the page, most of which were demonstrated on one audience member who is brought onto the stage to visually represent the “Child” in the show's title.

Countering the many moments of laughter were the few beats of raw emotion, largely shared through anecdotes. Again, these linked in very smoothly with the flow of the show, and provided brief moments of thought which were essential for the message being conveyed. Men's mental health, the timeline of pregnancy and various other topics provided chances to really think about what was being said and lead to the material being much more relatable to everybody in the room for different reasons.

In summary, this fun, yet thought-provoking performance is one that Emma Richardson should be proud of. It seemed to get positive responses from the audience, and was well-written throughout. Sprinkle on some comic stage-presence, a dash of vulnerability and a hint of love for a future baby boy, you have the recipe for an entertaining night out.

Emma Richardson’s next project is as writer and producer of Play-AI at The King’s Head Theatre.

Tickets and information can be found at https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/play-ai

For any updates, including future runs of Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dogs' Tails, follow Emma on Instagram at @richardsonemmajane