Writer: Pippa Evans
Director & Choreographer: Craig Revel Horwood
If you want a rousing evening of eighties pop nostalgia, great singing and dancing, laugh out loud verbal and visual gags, bustling energy and a simple story of youthful ambition and everyday reality, then you can’t go wrong but make sure you see this highly entertaining musical comedy. An extremely talented company gives its all to ensure the audience have a great time reminiscing some of the greatest hits from the 80s, including Gold, Tainted Love, Video Killed The Radio Star, Hey Mickey, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves and many others. And the climax has an appearance from special guest star and pop icon Jay Osmond, the youngest of the original Osmond Brothers, who performs one of his biggest hits Crazy Horses!
The simple story-line revolves round best friends Gemma (Nina Wadia) and April (Melissa Jacques) from Birmingham, on the cusp of leaving school with differing ambitions in life. Gemma wants to be a nurse and April has her sights set on making it as an actress in Hollywood. The year is 1989. A school reunion is the device on which the ensuing action hangs with the now adult leads telling their respective stories and all the various relationships playing out. The extensive playlist is very well devised and the orchestrations, ably directed by musical director Georgia Rawlins (who also plays keyboards), are excellently complemented by the superior sound (designed by Adam Fisher). Of course all of this would ultimately fail if the singing voices were not up to scratch, but there is no need to worry on this score. All the soloists, without exception, deliver strong, confident performances that perfectly enhance the overall effect.
The full company numbers nearly twenty and not all can be individually named but credit must go to the following:- Nina Wadia is a revelation as the older Gemma. She brings all her experience and stagecraft to bear as her character has achieved job success as a nurse but is ultimately very unhappy in her childless and loveless marriage. Melissa Jacques as the older April has a very powerful singing voice and some great one-liners in a poignant role that sees her acting ambitions coming to naught at the expense of her childhood friendship but coming to fruition at the end (just in case you were wondering). Maia Hawkins and Nikita Johal play the younger April and Gemma with confidence and skill, encapsulating all the youthful exuberance and budding romances at that age. Shakil Hussain is the older Frank (Gemma’s brother) whose business and entrepreneurial ambitions have ultimately ended in failure but will his childhood crush on April eventually end the same way? Chris Grahamson is the older Tim, married to Gemma and something of a would be lothario. He really enjoys himself as the “villain” of the piece, super smooth and polished, and his rendition of Gold is one of the highlights. Blake Tuke, stepping in as the younger Tim, is brilliant in his suave suit and gorgeous hair with the Michael Jackson moonwalk and perfect smile who wins the heart of an impressionable Gemma. Callum Tempest is hilarious as Barney and his strippergram (a la pizza delivery man) has to be seen to be believed. And last but certainly not least is Phil Sealey as Steve, whose dance moves bring the house down and he deserves enormous credit for his courage and tenacity.
The set is very colourful and reminiscent of the era. There are many scene changes which are achieved effortlessly and efficiently and never intrude on the action. Costumes are in keeping with the songs, so you get tv headsets in Video . . . Star, cheerleader outfits in Hey Mickey and so on. The sound is very loud but in keeping with the period. By the time the finale megamix comes around the audience are on their feet clapping and singing and a thoroughly good time has obviously been enjoyed by all.
Runs until Saturday 19 October 2024
