Blackpool Winter Garden – until Saturday 19 August 2023
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
“Could it be Magic – That is what Blackpool is in for when watching this spectacular performance of Greatest Days.”
The official Take That Musical, Greatest Days, which boasts a book by award-winning playwright Tim Firth and music and lyrics by Take That is a feel good and emotional story about love and friendship of five best friends who unite over their joint love of a boyband but due to a tragedy that impacts their friendship, they end up going their separate ways until they reunite twenty-five years later for one more epic show by their beloved band.
We first meet the girls ( Rachel – Olivia Hallett, Debbie – Mary Moore, Claire – Mari McGinlay, Zoe – Hannah Brown, Heather – Kitty Harris) at age 16 who are discussing their favourite boy bands performance on Top of the Pops the previous night only out find out that Debbie has entered a competition to see them that evening in Manchester and has only gone and won it.
The show is everything that they expected it to be but whilst waiting to see if they can catch a glimpse of the band after the concert, they miss their train home and have to catch the bus where they end up being thrown off for being excitable noisy teenagers singing and dancing to their favourite songs.
Zoe decides she can navigate them home where they stop along the way and discuss what they expect their futures to hold and make a pact to always be friends, however as they go their separate ways, tragedy strikes, and the girls separate until we catch them again 25 years later where they meet up to see their favourite boy band once again.
As adults, we find that the girl’s lives did not pan out as expected but it finally gives them the opportunity to discuss their feelings and to deal with the tragedy that hit them so many years ago and to reforge their friendship going forward.
The soundtrack for the musical was vast and just as a tease, you will be treated to hits such as Could it be Magic, Relight my Fire, The Flood and Shine.
This production starred Kim Marsh as Rachel, Holly Ashton as Zoe, Rachel Marwood as Heather, and Jamie-Rose Monk as Claire who were supported by an incredible cast including locally acclaimed Kitty Harris who trained at Langley Dance Academy & Arts School. Their acting talents created such a presence on stage with a standing ovation at the end.
The production also needs special thanks to Lucy Osborne for creating such an adaptable set and fabulous costumes, Tony Gayle for the wonderful sound, Rob Casey for the dazzling lighting, Aaron Renfree for the streamlined choreography and Jess Goldstein for the authentic costumes.