Full House - eyes down for a great night out

REVIEW: 'Full House' at The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Full House brings bingo and the valleys together to tell a sad, yet heart-warming story of a girl seemingly content with her lot but dreaming of better things.

The performance took place in the Sherman Theatre studio, the seating in cabaret style and the set resembling a bingo hall, complete with obligatory glitter and glitz.

The audience, or the bingo participants, were entertained by an '80s playlist and by Sam, bingo caller extraordinare, who danced among the tables, chatting and ensuring we had our bingo cards and dabbers before the night's activities began.

And the activities included the audience actually playing bingo and Sam dressing as a frankfurter to promote sponsor The Pet Shop while the audience shouted out "Hot Dog!".

Games of bingo, interspersed with storytelling and even rapping, captivated the audience. And who knew about the healing properties of a chocolate spread sandwich?

Sam, the larger-than-life host of Cloud Nine Bingo, was introduced to the game by her dearly loved Nan who brought her up amidst a chaotic and neglected childhood.

But all is not what it appears. Increasingly it becomes clear that Sam is not the happy-go-lucky girl she pretends to be. Frequent references to Nan which drift into the past tense and the ominous presence of a cremation urn on stage, lead the audience to the obvious conclusion that Sam is now alone in life and struggling with overwhelming grief and loneliness.

The play is therefore a tale of two parts - the colourful, brash world of Cloud Nine Bingo with the forced joviality presented by Sam, and the growing narrative of her true life and experiences.

Full House has a dark undercurrent portraying a small and unfulfilled life, bullied and betrayed by those she called friends, culminating in the death of the one person who truly loved her.  At first you laugh with Sam, then your heart goes out to her.

This is a tour de force solo performance by talented writer and actor Hannah Lad who captures both worlds convincingly. Although well supported by David McSparron (sound design) and Charlie Moore (lighting) with the voiceover of Tina and Nan (Laura Dalgleish) transmitted, Hannah held the stage and the floor in the palm of her hand.

Her comic timing, her working of the audience and, conversely, the vulnerability she portrayed were superb. The standing ovation at the close was fully deserved.

Full House is a co-production between Hannah Lad and RCT Theatres, commissioned and supported by Sherman Theatre and supported by the Arts Council of Wales. We were invited to review the performance on Friday (6 February) at the end of its run.

Review by Lynne Schofield

Photos by Jorge Lizalde

We received free tickets for this performance in exchange for an honest review