Storyhouse, Chester – until Saturday 31st March 2018. Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
Son of a Preacher Man is a story of love and grief – a simple enough theme until you throw in the complexities of life. Based on a book and play written by Warner Brown and directed and staged by Craig Revel Horwood, who to the masses is famed as a judge on BBC1’s Strictly, so it’s only justified to expect a little campness and sometimes a little corniness but isn’t that what we love? It is difficult to single out a favourite actor, a favourite singer or even a favourite part of this extravaganza without constantly changing your mind because it’s fast paced and slick and you find all the characters so likeable. Then of course there’s Dusty, who doesn’t love the soulful 60’s icon that was Dusty Springfield?
We are introduced to our main characters each as different as the next, Alison a teacher recently widowed, Paul a man searching for his lost youth and Kat a teenager who has lost her Gran; her mother figure. They talk about a time in the 60’s when teenagers would frequent a local record shop in London, Paul remembers it well, the other two only through others memories. A decision is made by each in turn to travel to London on a pilgrimage, to see if they can find and perhaps meet the famed Preacher Man. As if miraculously they all arrive outside a building at the same time, it becomes apparent they share the same goal, to seek The Preacher Man.
What they find is The Double Shot, a coffee shop run by a reclusive and nervous man named Simon lovingly played by Nigel Richards, his flashes of humour and bumbling attitude in an attempt to help the three patrons albeit reluctanty earn him a place in the audiences heart. It soon becomes apparent he is infact the son of the preacher man, who doesn’t feel a song coming on? He introduces us to his three waitresses the glorious Cappuccino Sisters, whose presence on stage helps to give an old tale a modern feel, showing how the 60’s can still be enjoyed at any age.
Michele Long, Kate Hardisty and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong with their wild and wacky hair, makeup and costumes must have a party up on stage each and every performance.
So to love and grief; just what has brought them to London? Each shares their tale with little flashbacks of song and dance of course aided by Dusty. Paul (Michael Howe) a fun loving older man who muses over lost love during the 60’s a time when homosexuality wasn’t accepted as it is today. The dance shared by a young Paul and Jack is emotionally charged and moving. Kat (Alice Barlow) a young feisty teenager struggling over the loss of her Gran and facing homelessness, shows a little bit of a playful side and impetuousness of youth in her persuit of her Match.com man Mike (Liam Vincent-Kilbride) and finally Alison (Michelle Gayle) a teacher recently widowed and wondering about life on her own again, faces a real demon the taboo subject of love with a pupil a young A level student she had been tutoring.
Without a doubt each and every member of the cast can sing, my goosbumps had chills when those songs were belted out raising the roof on Storyhouse. I longed to get up on stage at times and join the party, sing and dance away. My fellow audience members were swaying and some even happily singing along, it brought a smile to my face. But you can’t, you need to keep track of the story unfolding, this tale of love will it be predictable, will Simon succeed in following in his fathers footsteps and bring our three the lives and love they so crave? Only Paul manages to secure the friendship of his lost love Jack, it’s sad to see what life could’ve been for them both. Will they be together no one knows but we can hope. The Son of a Preacher Man left me with a warm fuzzy glow, but the music left me buzzing. Michelle Gayle, Alice Barlow and Michael Howe are each electric and magnificent in bringing alive their characters not to mention spine-tingling singing performances. Alison and Simon becoming a couple is a real cheery moment, you love the connection between Kat and Liam who declares he doesn’t love his teacher anymore. Some of the dance routines may be a little bit naughty and cringy but you can’t help but laugh, it’s not malicious. Then at long last comes the ending we crave Son of a Preacher Man, we are encouraged to rise to our feet and join in. Of course that ensured a standing ovation but I’d have been stood on my feet applauding anyway.