The 1980s themed nostalgia-fest ‘NOW That's What I Call A Musical’ has boogied its way to Liverpool this week on a tour that began last September and it’s good to see that, 20 stops into a 25 venue schedule, the enthusiastic cast seem to be maintaining the energy needed to keep it lively.
Gemma, played by Nina Wadia, is attending a reunion of ‘The Class of ’89’, and looking forward to meeting her old BFF April (Sam Bailey) who she hasn’t seen in decades. Interspersed onstage among the middle-aged characters of today are their teenage selves, so that the story plays out not so much in flashback but more as a vivid memory. As well as Nikita Johal and Maia Hawkins as the younger Gemma and April, there is quite a substantial double cast, all of whom have strong singing voices.
This is the essential, because nobody is here for the storytelling. The purpose of the show is as a vehicle for a big chunk of Sony and Universal’s back catalogue of hits (you only have to read the title to get the picture) and the book by Pippa Evans is unabashedly written to fit around the extensive playlist. This list is as long as your arm, but includes a broad selection from Girls Just Wanna Have Fun to Sisters Doing It for Themselves and from Hey Mickey to Man in Motion.
The focal point of Act II is the appearance of a special guest star, who is conjured by Wadia’s Gemma from a poster on the bedroom wall. The producers have lined up 4 guests who have been taking turns to appear at the various venues, and it is no surprise that Sonia was the choice for Liverpool. There is no doubt that Sonia still has the charisma and effervescent charm to hold an audience, and while she is still to appear with the show at Birmingham, Bristol and Wimbledon, she likely gets her biggest ovation of the tour here in her home city. Meanwhile the remaining audiences in York and Oxford will see Sinitta and Carol Decker take the spotlight.
Craig Revell Horwood has choreographed and directed, and his flair for camp humour shows in much of the intentionally cheesy delivery and authentically ‘80s routines, all of which are executed with style by the excellent ensemble. All of this is accompanied by a fine pit band under the direction of Georgia Rawlins, and while Adam Fisher’s sound design occasionally swamps the dialogue it certainly gets the music right.
Bucking the trend with touring shows for pared down staging and video projection, the stage design here from Tom Rogers and Toots Butcher is reassuringly solid and structural; a shape-shifting room framed by a wall of audio cassettes, that reinforces the period feel along with their excellent costumes.
Much of the weight of the show is carried by the younger stars, and there are lovely performances from Johal and Hawkins as well as Luke Latchman and Kieran Cooper as the younger Frank and Tim, Matthew Mori, stepping up from young Steve to older Steve on press night, and from company swing Blake Tuke who in turn took the part of Young Steve. Bailey has a surprisingly minor role in older April, with Wadia taking the lion’s share of the stage time as Gemma, and it is Wadia who has the most stage presence of all.
Looking around the audience it is clear what sort of demographic this show aims itself at, and for those who grew up in the ‘80s this is a very powerful blast from the past that seems to hit its mark and puts a lot of smiles on faces. Kudos to the front of house team at the Empire for keeping a check on the small contingent who had perhaps started partying a tad early in the evening.
It is a very long show, which would benefit from a little trimming if it tours again, so be ready for getting out of the theatre well after 10pm after an evening performance — if nothing else this delivers value for money in terms of sheer quantity. There has been much criticism made since the show opened of its scant narrative and its lack of dramatic weight, but seriously? It declares itself to be a celebration of 40 years of the ‘NOW’ compilation albums, so anyone booking with the hope of seeing a great piece of storytelling simply hasn’t read the brief. Those in the house who have raided their wardrobes for the ‘80s outfits have the right idea. Tune your mind into full-on nostalgia mode and prepare for a bit of lighthearted fun, and you won’t be disappointed.
NOW That's What I Call A Musical is at Liverpool Empire until Saturday 8th March and then continues touring through to April 12th.
Star rating: 3 stars
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| Sonia and the cast of NOW That's What I Call a Musical - Photos by Pamela Raith |
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| Sonia and Nina Wadia |
This review was originally written for publication by Good News Liverpool
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