Remember walkmans? Remember video stores? Remember the 80’s? I am an 80’s gal and now I can relive all my favourite numbers in NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, a new musical inspired by the 40th Anniversary of the iconic CD series, which is at Milton Keynes Theatre this week.
It’s Birmingham, 1989. Two school friends, Gemma and April, are busy planning their futures. April wants to be a Hollywood actress (who doesn’t?) and Gemma has always wanted to be a nurse. How will their lives turn out? The show opens to a school reunion 20 years later. Lets be honest, people never really like school reunions unless they have had a successful career to boast about. People wonder where the last 20 years have gone. Gemma doesn’t look that happy and April is no where to be seen.
The star of this show are the songs and rightly so. The 80’s were an iconic time so expect to hear banger after banger including, Heart of Glass, Flashdance, Tainted Love, Video Killed The Radio Star, Mickey, Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves and so many many more. (I sound like a advert for a CD…oh wait!). I firstly want to highlight my favroute two – Video Killed The Radio Star was a set piece that was outstanding. It felt the video had really come to life on stage and we had people dancing with TV sets on their heads. My other favourite was Flashdance – What A Feeling. Not only did the cast perform this brilliantly, but they had a bit of a megamix with Ride On Time and Thriller. Outstanding. There are some songs that do not move the story along such as Tainted Love. This number had a tango but although I love this song, it didn’t add anything. In fact the parents flirting with each other was uncomfortable viewing and the tango felt random and unnecessary.
The performances are fabulous. I adored the two young friends Nikita Johal (Younger Gemma) and Maia Hawkins (Younger April) who both gave fabulous performances and really felt like best friends forever.
Their grown up counterparts were equally as talented. Nina Wadia plays grown up Gemma and her performance was so moving, especially during the wedding scene where she is remembering her own wedding that I had tears. Melissa Jacques plays grown up April and let me just say this: Melissa sang Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves better than Aretha Franklin. Yes I stand by that statement. Melissa blew me away.
And don’t forget, with this show you get your own genuine 80’s pop star. At Milton Keynes Theatre its Sonia and boy did she bring it. I love her entrance and how she is surrounded by fans (the ones that cool you down). Dressed all in a shiny one piece, what an icon! Sonia sang two of her hits:Better The Devil You Know and You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You.
The show is set in Birmingham and there is a lot of ‘bab’ floating about. I wonder how well this translates outside of brum. I also had an issue with dates and ages of the performers. If you were 16 in 1989, at the 20 year reunion you would be 36. Nina and Melissa are not 36 (at a guess) which in turn throws out the parents who are supposedly in their 50’s. I don’t know why they just don’t make it a 40 year reunion and then everything would fit.
NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, is written by award-winning comedian Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood and you can see Craig’s magic dust all over the production. This show is full of energy and fun with a funny script and the playlist to your life.
If you love the 80’s this is for you and if you were too young, come see why Gen X love the 80’s. Its like MTV has come to life on stage!
NOW That’s What I Call A Musical is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 16 November and then continues its UK tour.
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