Signs of a Diva, the one-woman play starring Caroline Parker and currently running at the Drill Hall, is not an easy show to review. Not because it’s bad, in fact quite the opposite, it's just that, try as I might, I can't make it sound interesting.

This is the story of an undertaker, the appropriately named Susan Graves, who also happens to be deaf. A chance encounter leads to a second career as a performer, interpreting songs in sign language at the funerals she helps to organise. Soon Susan is spotted by a local showbiz entrepreneur with an eye for something out of the ordinary, and a regular spot at a local nightclub ensues.

Signs of a Diva follows her transformation from mousey mortuary worker Sue to glittering sign language artiste 'Tammy Frascati', with some romance thrown in for good measure. As well as using sign language, the show also features captioned dialogue for the hearing impaired.

Now do you see what I mean? If I had read that description before going to see the show, I might not have bothered. Is it just me, or does it sounds slightly worthy, all a bit niche - a show performed by a deaf woman aimed at a deaf audience perhaps? But please don't let my description put you off, because Signs of a Diva is worth seeing. In fact, it's really pretty good.

Actually, that's not quite accurate. The play itself is sweet enough, but ultimately rather slight. There are two things that really shine here, and the first is Caroline Parker herself.

It's a long time since I've been quite so entranced by a theatrical performance. She totally inhabits the character of Sue and every giggle of delight, every sign of sadness are a joy to behold.

The second highlight of the evening is the music itself and the way that Caroline / Susan / Tammy reinterprets it using sign language. If you’re a fan of gutsy girl singers then this show is your idea of aural heaven - from Celine to Whitney to Dusty, they're all included - but I bet you've never seen their work performed quite like this before.

Parker artfully turns sign language into an elegant choreography, transforming the spoken word into heartfelt movement - I even found myself enjoying overblown classic 'I Will Always Love You', a definite first for me. There are comedy moments too, both in the dialogue and in the songs, with Parker's performance of In These Shoes by Kirsty MacColl an obvious high point.

Caroline Parker enjoys herself so much during Signs of a Diva that I defy anyone not to be carried along on her tidal wave of enthusiasm. The show is performed in Drill Hall 2, a small basement space which is the perfect setting for this intimate work. It may not be the kind of play that changes your life, it certainly won't shock or challenge you, but that doesn't mean that it is not worth seeing.

With a tighter, more purposeful script this might have been a five star performance. As is it, Signs of a Diva will have to be content with a respectable four. I laughed, I (almost) cried, I even had a bit of sing-a-long and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I sincerely hope that more people get the chance to appreciate the Caroline Parker experience.

The audience was sparse on the night that I saw it, but their obvious enthusiasm for the performance filled the room. I left the theatre with a massive grin on my face and a warm feeling inside. Get yourself along to Signs of a Diva, and I bet you will too.

Signs of a Diva, by Nona Shepphard
Drill Hall 2
16 Chenies Street
London, WC1E 7EX
020 7307 5060 / www.drillhall.co.uk

Want more? Then why not buy Eyes of Desire: A Deaf Gay and Lesbian Reader by Raymond Luczak. Get it online and save some money to put towards The Deaf-mute Boy by Joseph Geraci.