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Camden Fringe 2019: The Indecent Musings of Miss Doncaster 2007 at Camden People’s Theatre

Camden Fringe 2019: The Indecent Musings of Miss Doncaster 2007 at Camden People’s Theatre | Theatre review

The bold one-woman show, The Indecent Musings of Miss Doncaster 2007, careens into the Camden People’s Theatre with belly-aching laughs and a nostalgic wisdom. This is a story about how we numb our own shattered expectations for ourselves, but pick ourselves up nonetheless.

After being crowned Miss Doncaster in 2007, things have not gone according to plan and Miss Donny now spends her days in between a dead-end job as a receptionist for an insurance company and at bars and clubs where she can give herself up to the music. At home, her father is slowly dying of an undiagnosed illness that takes control of his body and ability to speak. Although she might be surrounded by people, Miss Donny feels so alone and muses on the tribulations of her own corporeal self.

Writer and performer Annabel York physically embodies each unfiltered joy, deflated sorrow and candid reflection. From getting dominated by her Tinder date and accidentally sitting on his cactus to drinking too much at an office party and sleeping with her coworker, York makes each of Mher character’s embarrassing misadventures an intimately relatable experience. Throughout all this, Miss Donny never loses a quiet wisdom that always seems to accompany those who experience great loss. It is an insightful and funny performance that makes you laugh and cry, laugh so hard you cry, and even laugh a few times through heartbroken tears.

The Indecent Musings of Miss Doncaster 2007 is triumphantly ridiculous and tragically cathartic. One should never assume that their local pageant queen would not be able to deliver a sermon about genuine self-acceptance, especially if she is screaming it from the top of her lungs, blackout drunk on the dance floor of the local club. It seems that our lowest, most pitiful moments build us up into the people that are strong enough to take on the worst and best that life has to offer. Miss Donny seems to know all of this, or at least dances like she does.

Lora Maslenitsyna

The Indecent Musings of Miss Doncaster 2007 is at Camden People’s Theatre from 6th until 10th August 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

For further information about Camden Fringe 2019 visit the festival website here.

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