Now That’s What I Call Irony!

Anyone with the temerity to call their theatre show, Now That’s What I Call A Musical, has an excess of confidence or a highly inflated ego but, then again, the production in question was directed and choreographed by no other than ‘Strictly’s’ Craig Revel Horwood. Nuff said!

And, after two hours in Bradford’s Alhambra last night, I began to wonder whether I was existing in the middle of a psychedelic trip, sandwiched somewhere between Cyndi Lauper and Soft Cell with a dash of the Osmonds thrown in for good measure.

Overly long to the point of clock watching, it did, however, have me laughing at times and, towards the end, in a temporary state of disbelief as Jay Osmond, dressed in white, appeared on stage with the woman next to me commenting: “My God, it’s the second coming!”

Yes, it was an evening of camp excess and I could not thank you more Mr Revel Horwood, so I won’t.

But, fair’s fair and Now That’s What I Call A Musical, did have its titter highlights, including the story line, and I laughed out loud as stage swing Blake Tuke as Younger Tim, donned his excessive 80’s wig for a Flashdance moment with Nikita Johal as Younger Gemma: hilarious. Ham at its finest.

This is an opportunist juke box musical bashed out by the money men, of which Craig Revel Horwood may or may not be one, in an overt attempt to cash in at the box office and, for that reason, is an insult to those who do love musicals, real musicals: Chicago, Les Miserables, Phantom and the like.

It really isn’t enough to get lots of wonderful tunes – UB40’s Red Red Wine, Tainted Love, songs by Wham and Frankie Goes to Hollywood – string them all together with a less than weak storyline, and then call your creation a musical because, in doing so, you steal from the real thing.

At best you are on the shirt tails of Phantom only this one was trailing behind in the mud.

I never leave a show at the interval because I think that is professionally rude to do so, but, honestly, I wanted to go home.

Set at a high school reunion in Birmingham circa 1989, there are an unending string of flashbacks to ‘better times’ as teenage April heads for the bright lights of Hollywood while her bestie, Gemma, stays behind to become a nurse and marry a rich yuppie.

Years on, the pounds have also piled on, relationships are frayed and kids are now in the background…..there are lots of tears, fights, forgiveness and, oh yes, lyrics from 80’s pop songs stringing it all together. We’ve come a long way since Mamma Mia!

At various points in the tour Sinitta, Sonia, Carol Decker and Mr Jay Osmond make ‘guest appearances’.

Last night it took the audience a few second to realise that they should be cheering and applauding Jay, who had already taken his premature entrance bow, but they quickly warmed up and everyone lived happily after.

If you love cheese and 80’s music you’ll love Now That’s What I call A Musical but, remember, too much cheese can result in an excess of cholesterol and we all know where that can lead!

Now That’s What I Call A Musical
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Until Sat 19th October
Box Office 01274 432000