In the guise of a psychologist, the show takes the form of a multi media self help lecture and follows a jubilant Bobby as she expounds her 11 point plan on How to Live, which promises a better life to all who follow its diktats. Incorporating aspects of psychology, cognitive therapy, Buddhism and basic commonsense, it is a funny, bizarre and possibly helpful guide to vanquishing the personality foibles that stop us realizing our true potential.

Enthusiastic and sanguine, she cajoles the audience to nudge away at their fears, to stand up for their rights, express themselves, take exercise, nip problems in the bud and not to judge themselves too harshly, drawing in rambling anecdotes to illustrate her points. She is a comedy figure, adept at self parody, yet there is a persistent glint in her eye which makes you aware that she is totally on the ball despite her tomfoolery and that you really should take heed of these pearls of wisdom.

Star of the show and taking centre stage with Bobby is a former patient: a pea. Yes that's right, a legume, with a personali-pea disorder, who has followed her 11 tenets and wants to proclaim just how life changing her programme is. Using a pea is a great wheeze successfully distorting the laborious didactic nature of the piece into a kooky, palatable metaphor.

Beautiful touches pepper this production, such as Simon York's exquisite miniature set wheeled on stage for the pea, Daria Gibson's life sized pea costume, and the small white envelope on each seat as you arrive, that can only be opened when Bobby gives you the nod. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it adds a truly priceless element to proceedings as the whole audience joins the group participation.

Bobby is a larger than life, jolly woman and you can't help warming to her slightly cuckoo outlook - however being endearing isn't enough to carry a show and How to Live has too many slack moments, in its set shifts, its long video footage, and the laughs don't come hard or fast enough in the first half. Use of powerpoint and hand held cameras to project her face on to a screen also felt forced and were used awkwardly. What rescues the production when it flounders is the dazzling ingenuity of the creative team who provide all the verve and humour and the set, costume, sound and lighting designers really do come together to create a tour de force.

Nowhere more so than in the final image where row upon row of peas are lowered down and then suspended above the stage, creating a polka dot sea of green, which move in unison like a wave as they sing, the 11 steps in Bobby's guide to life. It is an awe-inspiring site, for which the English Chamber Choir who provided vocals should be praised. Real galvanising stuff.

All in all How to Live is a cute production, a whimsical pocket guide cribbed from all the major doctrines and theories on how we can render ourselves a little less messed up and insecure. Odd and uplifting, it's plain to see why Bobby Baker has a cult following and a performance career spanning more than 30 years.

  share with:  Facebook | Digg | other sites