Shirley Valentine (film) to retain the best of Willy Russell's theatrical devices . . . while opening out the action to embrace a big-screen atmosphere. The supporting cast, particularly Bernard Hill as Collins's Neanderthal husband, is equally convincing, with only the hammy Conti (glistening teeth and appalling accent) striking a momentary false note." Among reviewers who found the film banal and hollow, Caryn James of "The New York Times" observed, "By adding all the characters and settings that Shirley only talks about on stage, the film reveals the weakness of Mr. Russell's script as surely as if a magician's clumsy assistant had pointed
Amanda Muggleton all the State and commercial theatre companies. On stage, her performances with State theatre companies include "Privates on Parade", "The Matchmaker", "The Seagull", "Shirley Valentine" (MTC), "Master Class", "Nicholas Nickleby", "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice", "Soulmates" (STC), "Duet for One", "The Winter's Tale", "Gigi", "We Were Dancing" (QTC), "Twelfth Night", "Blithe Spirit" (SATC), "Educating Rita", "Medea" and "Shirley Valentine" (Hole in the Wall, Perth). Muggleton's commercial credits include "HMS Pinafore" (Essgee), "Hello Dolly" (The Production Company), "The Book Club", "Master Class" (ICA), "Annie" (GFO/SEL/Macks), the original "Steaming" (Morley, Davis), "Eureka!" (Essgee) and "Losing Louis" (Ensemble Theatre). Muggleton has