For a woman who's become almost as famous for the work done on her face as the work she's done on the screen, Joan Rivers proves remarkably candid about the unwanted aspects of aging. She makes no secret of the fact that she's 75 – or that without a bra she'd probably trip over her tits. Okay, that's obviously a bit of an exaggeration – her clothed body (no doubt with considerable cosmetic help) seems in pretty good nick even for someone half her age. But Rivers is no shrinking violet, and she's not shy about revealing a more vulnerable side either – talking about the suicide of her husband over 20 years ago brings her close to tears, and her never resolved estrangement from fellow TV host Johnny Carson still rankles. At least she's back on good terms with her only daughter, Melissa.
The biographical information doesn't yield many new surprises – but you just have to admire the woman's spirit and determination. Love her or loathe her, she's feisty and funny, and although her new bitchily confessional show(set in her dressing room on Oscar night just before she's due to conduct the red-carpet interviews and in which she's joined by 3 other actors who, to be honest, do very little for most of the time) could do with a bit of cutting, there's enough crude humour and sheer bloody mindedness to keep her fans more than happy. She may not be able to completely hold back the years, but she's a survivor who certainly still knows how to play an audience.
Leicester Square Theatre, Leicester Place, WC2. (0844-847 2475). Currently until September 18. Returns December 2-23 and January 15-29. £47.50-£35
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