Storyhouse, Chester – until Saturday 15th September 2018
Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
Summer Holiday was originally a hit film which spawned many hit records in 1963, it’s appeal was that of cleanly cut household favourite Cliff Richard; Britain’s answer to Elvis with his boyish charm and as I remember watching the film with it’s sunshine feel good factor, he was just likeable, the film was a silly nod to childhood dreams of going places and escaping the drab, miserable monotonous lives of the working class. This was a whole year before Beatlemania took the world by storm.
This wholesome version takes some getting used to, I was silly, I expected Don to be a Cliff Richards clone. You have to sit back and forget that notion but immerse yourself in a fantasy zone where music is toe tappingly good and you long to get up and jive. Adapted for the stage by Mark Hadigan and Michael Gyngell I’m surprised and pleasantly so how some of the humour works for today’s theatre goers, remember folks it’s the early 60’s and historically speaking well times were far from brimming with political correctness. The dream sequences are a dash of silliness that is bizarre yet amusing; dancing goats, yes really. There is one actor who deserves a mention and that’s William Beckerleg, simply listed in the ensemble, he pops up in what can only be described as a comedic cameo role. Not overplayed it comes to the point where the mere site of him has you giggling.
As with many shows that I’ve had the pleasure to watch at Storyhouse, the audience had come expecting to party and that always makes a production like this so much more enjoyable, clapping and singing throughout not to mention the finale which has the feel of a Cliff Richards concert. Don’t worry if you don’t think you know the songs, you will once everyone is singing, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it too. Storyhouse may be a small theatre but it’s perfect for these productions where you can actually see the faces of each and every performer. From catching a sneaky wink that you believe is aimed at you to the lovely twinkle in Ray Quinn’s eyes that shows he was loving every moment up on that stage. There is a touch of naughty humour that hasn’t changed in decades and just shows how Britain may be diverse but our humour always remains. This is family humour that the children will laugh at along with adults, it packs in the feel good factor. Liquid sunshine in a London bus you could say, there may not be any sunshine on the stage but the warmth radiates from the stage in bucketfuls.
Don our hero, a London Transport mechanic who along with his friends Steve, Edwin and Cyril (Billy Roberts, Joe Goldie and Rory Maguire) embark on a massive project to transform an iconic London Bus and travel across the continent. Don’t forget this was a major feat, years before social media and even the channel tunnel. Don played by Ray Quinn, he was made for musicals, he owns the whole stage, his charisma and charm making you think Cliff who? I admit to sniggering upon hearing his accent on stage. Let me explain I may have perhaps foolishly been expecting him to have those same softly spoken Cliff tones, instead it’s all jolly hockey sticks and that took me by surprise. But it works you realise it’s a clever move after all think about every accent from BBC during the 1960’s, London we think of as posh or cockney. He is bringing Don to life as a character portrayed by Ray Quinn and not as Cliff Richard, bravo for that. Don the intelligent member of a gang of 4 each with their own personalities. Then the boys being upstanding Englishmen, they rescue 3 damsels in distress, whose personalities equally match those of Steve, Edwin and Cyril. Namely our struggling girl group who can’t quite perfect their act Mimsie, Alma and Angie (Gabby Antrobus, Alice Baker and Laura Marie Benson) This already has the sounds of a slapstick comedy doesn’t it? But wait there’s romance there’s dastardly villains, yes it’s the American. It’s so hard to put a genre to Summer Holiday so let’s not. Sophie Mathew plays poor sad American Barbara, who is touring Europe pushed by her overbearing brash Mother Stella (Taryn Sudding), dragging along Jerry (Wayne Smith) as her Manager. Barbara a mediocre cabaret style singer who feels she can not possibly sing about life without sampling it first.
And this is what Summer Holiday is all about, Life. Why in our youth are we so keen to grow up, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Have your fun whilst you are young and you will have a greater understanding of the battles that lie in front of you. Of course the love of great music helps Summer Holiday along the way, from the self titled track to Bachelor Boy – which had me skipping out for the interval. To living Doll and The young Ones forget the end of Summer and the on set of Autumn you’ll leave the theatre extremely happy with sore hands (all that clapping) and perhaps a little hoarse. Cheer at the happy endings, feel warm and rosy inside as the boys get their girls, new careers and everyone appears to have a happily ever after moment. Summer Holiday is escapism at it’s stiff upper lipped best.