What Would Jarvis Do? by Laura Grillo, Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham North Side, London SW4 | until 16 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Alicia Bridge

What Would Jarvis Do?

by Laura Grillo

Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham North Side, London SW4 | until 16 October 2026.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“A roller coaster of a play.”

The theatre of the absurd can throw up some surprising plays and this very funny account of the attempt by two demented fans called DIDI and GG to get the golden trousers once worn by the object of their adoration, Jarvis Cocker, sold them by their equally demented therapist Ms Lacy goes off in all sorts of directions and never where one expects. Directed by Maiya Pacouche, who keeps the pace moving briskly, what holds it together are the performances by Annabel Smith as Didi, the almost sane fan, and Isabel Butt as the slightly downtrodden and madder of the two. One never quite knows what they will do next as they repeatedly visit Ms Lacy, a woman of menace conjured up splendidly by Maggie Daniels reading from the book as she had taken over the role, rejecting the mustard yellow pants they have been given. Jarvis, the pair insist, would never have worn them, let alone something from Gap. To complicate matters there is a man in a wheelchair who lives with Ms Lacy, but is not her husband, and claims to be kept prisoner by her and one more surprise individual. Apparently, it was inspired by Grillo's experience of sudden loss and grief during lockdown and is meant as a tribute to hope, yearning and the Britpop music that helped het find some light in the darkness. Well, if she says so then it is. But it also is a splendid roller coaster ride into madness – the intrepid two eventually discover, and lose, the allegedly real golden trousers, the man in the wheelchair rebels, and Ms Lacy is pretty well sent packing. As for that unexpected intruder played by Gigi Zahir in surely the highest heels ever created, go and find out. It is 80 minutes of chaos to relish as time and again the fans descend on Ms Lacy's front door.

Cast

Annabel Smith – Didi

Isabel Butt – GG

Maggie Daniels – Ms Lacy

Henry Miller – Mister

Gigi Zaher – Christopher

Creatives

Director – Mauya Pascouche

Set & Costume Design – Georgie Lynch-Bailey

Sount Designer – Frew

Lighting Designer – Laurel Marks