When director Jasmin Rees tried to explain the adventure that is Frank and Cynthia to me, I’ll admit I had a hard time keeping up. Born from a sketch in their sell-out Edinburgh show 23 Please: the sketch show that never was, Rico Hallworth and Rufus McAlister’s script follows the adventures of Frank and Cynthia’s daughter, Cathy, as she attempts to fly from Scunthorpe to Paris solo (which should be totally fine, right?). The script quickly dissolves into a myriad of hilarious situations, as Cathy has to try and become an adult without a mother in the wake of Cynthia’s death, and Frank has to try and deal with his daughter growing up without his permission.  

Naturally, in the midst of swots, Scots and pigeons, Cathy has got a little waylaid on her journey and finds herself at the Pembroke New Cellars this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (the 7th - 8th). She is joined by a “plethora of loveable (and not so loveable) characters” and has promised free wine to all attending.

According to Rees, the intimate venue of the cellars (which she assures me is deceptively named and is in fact well lit and also furnished) “suits exactly”. “It’s intimate and encourages a dialogue between the audience and the performance,” she continues. In discussion it is clear that the whole production team is immensely invested in this show, describing it as their “own little baby” – which, in all honesty, was a little concerning considering their own descriptions of Frank’s lacklustre parenting, and of course the highly anticipated (and heavily stressed) presence of complementary wine.

Keen to share the “chemistry of the stage” with others, Frank and Cynthia is offering 2-for-1 entry to Tuesday’s show for all RAG blind daters: an excellent plan, as a relationship that can thrive in a cellar will probably fair quite well within the Cambridge bubble. In all seriousness, it is clear that there is a lot of love surrounding the project and the team are hoping that all the blood, sweat and pain au chocolat that have gone into the piece will make their “wacky” and “fun” show shine. 

“I took with me less of a critical preview and more the memory of a genuinely enjoyable afternoon”

As will have already become apparent, my own gift for comedic writing is questionable. Luckily for Frank and Cynthia, Hallworth and McAlister have much more of a talent for it. I wish I had more coherent notes to work from when describing the script, but in truth I ended up spending my short time with it laughing at plot twists and well-crafted puns, taking with me less of a critical preview and more the memory of a genuinely enjoyable afternoon.

Review: Hot Gay Time Machine

In the words of Cynthia, “may I be Frank for a minute?" ...No, you’re right, that would be confusing. Instead I will say that as Week Three (or that blind date) starts to drag, Frank and Cynthia seems the perfect feel-good antidote, or ice-breaker to help you through. There is also – have we mentioned it already? – free wine. 

Frank and Cynthia runs from Tues 7th - Weds 8th Feb, at Pembroke New Cellars, 9:30pm