Mrs Rosie Thorn: The Patsy Cornish Saga

Last year, Mrs Rosie Thorn was introduced to the wonder of the Fringe. Her one woman show Butter Would Not Melt, was writer and performer Eleanor Appleton's first foray into the character's genteel world of domestic precision and dark humour. The Patsy Cornish Saga brings Rosie back to Edinburgh with a hint of death among the canapes. 

Since Rosie started life as a cabaret turn - and the evolution of cabaret into theatre always fascinates me - I bothered Appleton about how a rural housewife can rise above the din of the Fringe... 

What will make your show stand out at the Fringe in 2012? 

This show is an evolution of the traditional theatrical monologue it sits somewhere between theatre and cabaret. It's not comfortable sitting completely in either camp, it has the audience participation common in cabaret but also a linear narrative that you find in theatre. 

Rosie is accompanied by Mr. Gardener, the accordion playing man servant, who plays popular songs on the accordion and Rosie singing re-written lyrics to these songs incredibly badly. These songs intertwine themselves through a darkly humorous tale of manipulation, sociopathic trickery, grievous bodily harm and cats in a microwave.

How would you describe the piece - what sort of theatre is it, and what inspired the content? 

Rosie Thorn: The Patsy Cornish Saga is a dark comedy theatre show, the second in the Rosie Thorn series. Rosie is the pivotal character in all her stories as she fights for her idea of perfection in the village of Featherington-On-The-Wold, however sometimes her plight for a pleasant world of Victoria Sponge Cakes, white picket fences and 50’sesque domestic perfection can lead her down a path of precision planning and immaculately executed revenge on those who threaten her finely polished veneer of perfection. 

Rosie was a character that I founded in the development of a devised piece of theatre called the Powder Room that the group that I was working with at the time took to Edinburgh Fringe in 2006, since then the character has evolved massively and I know use her as an alter ego for compering, cabaret, stand up and full length theatre shows, Mr Gardener is a new addition, he came on board last September.

How long have you been working in theatre, and are there any highlights of your career so far? 

I have been working in theatre on and off since I left University in 2002, I would say creating and developing Rosie is my highlight as through her I also discovered an ability to write.

Why did you decide to come to the Fringe? 

This is the second year in a row that I have come with a ‘Rosie’ show and although I found last year incredibly challenging in many ways I also found it incredibly beneficial. There are so many networking opportunities and you get a great deal of feedback on your show which helps with future development. Also through the contacts that I have built up over the last year and the response that I received from last year I have managed to secure my venue at Surgeon’s Hall for free and have also been offered a slot on the Funny Women stage.

Mrs. Rosie Thorn: The Patsy Cornish Saga will be playing on The Funny Women bill at  the Bosco Tent on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th August and at The Space @ Surgeons Hall, Nicholson Street in Theatre 3 from Monday 20th– Saturday 25th August at 17:00.