Review - The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals - AO Arena Manchester

Promising us an evening that would be Practically Perfect in Every Way, The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals opened its fourth live extravaganza with Stefanie Jones and the cast of Mary Poppins in a Supercalifragilistic production number that really set the bar for the evening to come.

In front of an audience of over 12,000 people, Manchester’s AO Arena played host to a seemingly endless collection of stars from musicals old and new, all performing imaginatively staged versions of songs and medleys from their shows. We had been tempted with a substantial lineup of artists in the advance publicity for the event, but, as it approached, yet more acts were added to the burgeoning list, and on the night the surprises just kept on coming.

The show is intended as a celebration of the £3.1BN that The National Lottery has contributed to the performing arts over the past 30 years and, while the focus in the arena was very much on the spectacular collection of talent on stage, this was punctuated by a series of guest appearances from celebrities who had their own messages of thanks and support in interviews with our host for the evening, Jason Manford.

Layton Williams brought the house down with a medley from Titanique, while Ryan Kopel with the cast of Dear Evan Hansen and Carrie Hope Fletcher and the cast of Calamity Jane brought us a selection of songs from their shows.

The vast range of styles represented on the Musical Theatre stage was really highlighted, as extracts from Here and Now - The Official Steps Musical, Chicago, and Mean Girls were juxtaposed with each other, and there were some notable highlights amongst this smorgasbord of delights. In addition to those mentioned above, one especially memorable moment - a torch-song amongst the big song and dance spectaculars - was a showstopping rendition of ‘Maybe This Time’ from Cabaret by the incomparable Marisha Wallace.

Other treats in store included a tantalizing taster of the upcoming London production of Disney’s Hercules, With Luke Brady and members of the show’s cast, and a moving performance of ‘Dream the Impossible Dream’ by the National Lottery-Funded Our Dementia Choir, who were joined by surprise guest Michael Ball.

It would be remiss not to mention the immense skill of Jason Manford. This is a show made for television, and as such requires a degree of forbearance from its audience during the filming of various linking sequences. Manford succeeded in engaging the entire arena crowd throughout, maintaining the energy in the room and remaining in absolute control, even when a segment had to be repeated in its entirety due to a technical issue behind the scenes, which had failed to capture the audio correctly for broadcast. Manford must be a Godsend to producers with his natural demeanour and thoroughly likeable personality, coupled with a consummate professionalism. Seeing him hold this behemoth of a show together with such aplomb is a sight to behold.

Production was slick with excellent sound engineering, and the stage and lighting designs were first rate, whilst the substantial instrumental forces onstage provided a timely reminder of just how much difference a live orchestra makes to the sound and excitement of a show.

So how do you bring such a selection box of treats to an end? The answer came in the shape of Ryan Carter and the cast of Bat Out of Hell The Musical, who delivered a barnstorming conclusion with ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ and ‘Anything For Love’. All in all, we were treated to a great taster menu from the feast of shows currently showing in the West End and on tour. Watch out for the upcoming television and radio transmission.

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be broadcast in the spring on BBC One, BBC Radio 2, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds

Star Rating: Four stars ★★★★

 Artist photos by Jeff Spicer ©Getty Images

Marisha Wallace

Luke Brady and the cast of Hercules

Layton Williams, Jason Manford and Lauren Drew

Ryan Carter (R) and the cast of 'Bat Out of Hell The Musical'

This review was originally written for and published by Musical Theatre Review