Leeds Grand Theatre – until Sat 23 March 2019
Reviewed by Sally Richmond
5*****
Want to party? Then go see Benidorm Live – the stage show based on the hugely, successful popular TV programme. Derren Litten’s stage version of Benidorm has the audience in fits of laughter right from take off and continuously throughout the whole performance.
Benidorm Live is set in the Solana Resort in Benidorm, Spain, where we meet the crazy staff and holiday makers played by the brilliant cast from the TV series including: Joyce (Sherrie Hewson), Liam (Adam Gillen), Kenneth (Tony Maudsley), Mateo (Jake Canuso), Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) and Sam (Shelley Longworth) and new members – Sophie (Tricia Adele-Turner), Ben (Bradley Clarkson), Ricky (Will Jennings) and Derek (Damian Williams). The plot of the live stage production involves the team trying to uncover secret hotel inspectors, who are going to shut down the Solana Resort and of course it’s all done in a most farcical manner. Obviously chaos erupts, giving many laugh-out loud moments along the way. Performed on Mark Walters’ dazzling set, which smoothly transforms from hotel reception, poolside, Blow ’N’ Go salon and Neptune’s entertainment bar, Benidorm Live is a show which gives you everything you want and expect from it – brash comedy, jaw breaking jokes and your favourite characters at their best (or in Jacqueline’s case her naughty worst!).
Like the TV programme, the stage version is a hit because of the enormously talented cast. Jan Duvitski has some show stealing moments with her constant stream of innuendos and perfectly timed one-liners. The moment she jumped on fellow cast members and screamed, ‘Bouncy! Bouncy!’ she had the packed Grand audience in stitches. Hewson is her dazzling self throughout and simply adored by the audience during her whole performance as she flounces around giving commands and not realising what a dreadful manager she actually is. The Solana’s very own original Latin Lover Mateo, brings his character to life as he wows the audience with his hip-thrusting moves to Livin’ La Vida Loca and tries to seduce the female holidaymakers. Longworth gives a beautiful rendition of Faith Hill’s There You’ll Be and her powerful vocals hit the high notes to perfection. Maudsley’s fabulous Kenneth and Gillen’s Liam are as outrageous as ever and the stage production gives them more opportunities to ham up the slap-stick another notch.
Litten’s stage debut certainly entertains the audience and oozes the feel-good throughout. Totally brazen, brash pleasure-seeking has been the success to Benidorm the TV series for more than a decade and it translates to the stage extremely well, in fact given the audiences reactions – singing along and even having a boogie at some points, one could say that being on the stage actually enhanced it for some.
Benidorm Live brought a lot of sunshine to a cold, wet Monday evening in Leeds and provided much laughter and cheer to a full audience . Guaranteed to make you giggle – this show really transports you to Spain and on leaving, you’ll feel like you’ve just had a wild 24 hours at The Solana. Book your ticket and don’t miss the next flight!