80s Live! A show packing its own exclamation mark, featuring a band and four singers playing hits from the decade of big hair, big makeup and big songs.
Forget the usual theatre rules, in 80s Live! the audience is encouraged to sing along, to dance and even to whip their phones out, take pictures and film. It creates a raucous, gleeful atmosphere, where the singers are sometimes drowned out during popular choruses and rogue, dancing elbows find themselves all over the place.
The set-up is simple; with a drummer on a pedestal, a guitarist to one side, two keyboardists on the other and singers out in front. Compère duty is given to keyboardist and singer, Sid Sims. He’s a genial host, dapper in a purple tie and range of jackets, joking with the audience and teasing upcoming songs. He also does a mean Fred Schneider while singing Love Shack and gives a Ska medley a fair whack.
The four other singers often change into approximate costumes for their numbers. Rachel Johnson dresses up as Cyndi Lauper and Toni Basil full of quirks and smiley charm. Bryan Humphrey is given most of the camp/androgynous songs and has fun singing both as Boy George and his rival, Steve Strange. The costumes are fun but they are a little Stars in their Eyes, “Today Matthew, I shall be….”
‘The 80s’ is a broad topic to pick songs from, and fans of The Smiths may go home disappointed, as may fans of Goth Rock (though there is a little Depeche Mode). That said, 80s Live! manages to include an impressive range of songs. Pop fans will enjoy all the Wham!, Duran Duran and Madonna, some Bon Jovi will appease the rock fans, throw in Come on Eileen and some Buggles for weirdness – and audience members go home with smiles on their faces. The variety also means that the two-and-a-half hours pass in a flash.
A problem with ‘the 80s’ as a decade, is that it was one of image and personality. In the age of the music video (which killed the radio star after all) the singer was an integral part of the song. This means that, while Sims does a spirited take on Lip Up Fatty, he simply is no Buster Bloodvessel. This is the case with many of the songs that rely on their larger-than-life stars. This also means the personalities of the four individual singers don’t get a chance to shine, as the singers are playing the roles of the original artist. This is only a small issue in a show that is mainly focused on a big, brash good time but a little more personality from the singers would elevate the show further.
Yes, it’s a little cruise-shippy, but 80s Live! is a feel-good and fun night which is impossible not to enjoy.
Reviewed on 18 July 2023 and continues to tour
The Reviews Hub Score
A bit cruise-shippy but good fun.
