Birmingham Hippodrome – until Saturday 14th September 2024
Reviewed by Nadia Dodd
5*****
Being one of my childhood favourite films of the same name back in 1985 starring Michael Douglas I was so excited to watch this enfold on stage. My love of musical theatre stems from productions like this, following 17 wannabe stars in the chorus of a Broadway show in New York, showing what a gruelling time, some directors really do put them through.
Set as I said on Broadway in a theatre, during 1975 as some of the costumes prove, we meet and find out the stories and backgrounds of the auditionees who are working their hardest to get a job in the showbiz industry, for some of them before they are classed as too old to be in the business!
Zach (Adam Cooper) is the director who puts these 17 very different individuals through their paces. All different ages and from all very different backgrounds but all wanting the same outcome – to get a job that they will love! Cassie (Carly Mercedes Dyer) has returned to audition in the chorus when over halfway through it becomes known that she had briefly made it as a star and had had a previous relationship with Zach. Plans haven’t worked out for Cassie and needs work; Zach isn’t entirely sure that she should be there with the ‘youngsters’ saying she is better than being in the ensemble. Cassie proves him wrong though when he agrees to give her a chance.
There is always someone to stand out in a show for me and although I absolutely loved the energy of the whole cast, it was Judy (Kanako Nakano) was at the top of my list. She played her part so well of an erratic, desperate youngster wanting to prove herself and succeed. I hope she continues to strive in theatre and TV.
The scenes take place on an open, empty stage which exposes the vastness of the space with all the inner workings of a theatre. Somehow the bare stage never seems empty. The lighting is very cleverly adapted by transforming the rehearsal area into a glitzy glamorous Broadway stage for the final number ‘One’ (Singular Sensation), including costume ramp up to full gold glitz and watch out for the indoor fireworks and confetti which concludes the show. A standing audience ovation follows and a very well- deserved raucous applause. Even though the show is a straight through 1 hour 50 minutes with no interval, I was left wanting more.