Fanny’s Burning! – Frinton Summer Theatre

Fanny Cradock was before my time, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard the name. I know she’s synonymous with cooking, I think most younger people would say the same. The ballgown wearing was a new one (love it! ordered one!), but more importantly – and what this World Premiere of Anton Burge’s new play displays: she was a female pioneer.

Opening onto Fanny’s (Brenda Longman) cooking studio, you at once feel like you’re part of a television audience. Fanny’s assistant, Carol (Phoebe-Loveday Raymond) who was apparently silent during the real filming, is given a voice. We are also introduced to Johnnie (Sam Cox) who from the outset, is clearly the love of Fanny’s life and the backbone to her indomitable spirit.

As recipes unfold, so does the story of Fanny’s life. Through the cut away narration to Carol (which is done exceptionally well and Raymond has the most delicious voice) we learn about Fanny’s life before fame and how twenty years on she’s managing, and then failing. We understand there may be some embellishments, but we realise how hard the struggle was for a woman like Fanny in post-war times to make it through.

Burge clearly adores and admires Fanny, and he brings the audience along with him on that journey. She broke new ground – she carved (pun intended!) the way for female chefs, heck she probably started the whole tv cooking craze. While we may see some of her remarks as condescending, Fanny had to be assertive: she was occupying space in a male world.

It’s easy to forget sometimes how women like Margaret Thatcher and Barbara Cartland were unique to their time. They had to fight and claw their way to be accepted. Sexism, even today, is alive and kicking – we must never forget that – and we must thank and celebrate those women who have helped changed the shape of our future – and Fanny is one of them. 

‘Fanny’s Burning’ is also a love story, and I won’t deny I had a tear in my eye at the end. Johnnie is Fanny’s everything. She may be the star, but he is the shine in her sparkle. 

Billed as a comedy, I’d have to disagree. There are moments of amusement, but I found this production to be more tragedy than comedy, and it is all the more stronger for it.

One of the difficulties when dealing with such a big personality as what Fanny clearly was, is how you portray that. Longman does a good job, but she doesn’t quite pack the fire and dominance I believe Fanny would’ve had. This is clear to see next to Raymond, who is a natural in the role of Carol and really makes this her own. Perhaps it’s an easier gig, given Carol was always silent, but then that means Fanny needs to go even larger than life to make this pairing work to the fullest.

I really enjoyed ‘Fanny’s Burning’. Burge’s writing is superb and Sue Jenkins’ direction is spot on. Through this production we learn how Fanny really is a female icon and we should celebrate this irrepressible woman who helped paved the way for the rest of us today.

Reviewer: Samantha Collett

Reviewed: 6th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: