Grand Opera House York 21 March 2017. Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
Before The Beatles, before The Stones, Rock ‘n’ Roll was born. 28 years after its West End debut Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is once again touring the UK.
It tells the story of Buddy’s meteoric rise to fame, with The Crickets, marriage to Maria Elena Santiago and his tragic and untimely death less than 2 years later at the tender age of 22, in a plane crash that also claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Buddy, played wonderfully by Glen Joseph, alternating performances with Alex Fobbester, starts off as a country singer but really wants to be a rock ‘n’ roll singer. He is geeky and certainly knows his own mind, refusing to get rid of his glasses when told that rock ‘n’ roll stars don’t wear glasses, instead opting for an even thicker pair so they cannot be missed
Joseph is fantastic as Buddy and I suppose like Buddy he does not look like a star, but somehow he manages to command the stage. He is funny, nerdy and he really brings Buddy to life with his vocals and guitar. He is well supported by the rest of the cast.
We see Buddy break up with The Crickets, played by Joe Butcher and Josh Haberfield before touring with The Big Bopper and Valens.
The second half feels like we are in the audience for their final concert, I am still singing in my head Chantilly Lace even though I am not that familiar with it.
The multi talented actors and musicians all provide a great 2 hours worth of entertainment, with all the well known songs, Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day and Oh Boy, amongst them.
After the recent passing of Chuck Berry it is ironic that Johnny B Goode is part of the show. The cover was fantastic, especially Josephs’ behind the head guitar playing. It certainly was a fitting tribute.
Admittedly a lot of the audience were of a certain age, but it appeals to everyone, the cast really pull it off. By the end everyone was up on their feet, dancing and singing along and asking for more!
Showing in York until Saturday 25th March.