The Lowry, Manchester – until Saturday 26th January 2019
Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
The Band has arrived in Salford Quays smooching us into 2019 with it’s singalong pop music show tunes, courtesy of Take That, who are also producers. Beating away those January blues. It’s a musical of many angles, foot stomping dance moves, thigh slapping, hand clapping pop songs. But then there’s the stories that interweave alongside, showing us how music doesn’t define us, more it locks moments in time within us which like a sun going supernova can suddenly and unpredictably burst out of us and have us grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst pushing the supermarket trolley up aisle 10.
Arriving at The Lowry it was cold and damp outside but inside it was bustling and brimming with excitement, groups of people were chatting with strangers looking glad to be inside. Women were stripping in the toilets pulling on their Take That tour tshirts, obviously a birthday night of surprises. The auditorium was playing that soft gentle music that twinged in my head as I looked for our seats until my friend blurted ‘OMG Ceefax’ we squealed remembering those dating pages, word searches and not forgetting the holidays! This is all setting the scene 1993; what were we doing? Both of us were in college albeit different ones but we had already been friends for a few years. I hadn’t realised how apt bringing my oldest and closest friend would be until curtain down.
It would be easy to tell the story of The Band but there’s so many parts to dissect I couldn’t do it justice. Instead I’ll sing the praises of the cast, all who do an amazing job and gel together as only best friends do. They say if you find a friend no matter how long you spend apart those years melt away in minutes and this is what we see on stage. It’s 1993 and five young girls are living as we all did posters, pop music and dreams Rachel (Faye Christall) has a group of friends but only one BFF who she shares her fears, hopes and dreams with the engaging Debbie (Rachelle Diedricks) encouraging her with infectious energy and raising many a smile from me especially taping those pop songs. We see the hopes and dreams of each sixteen year old the world is their oyster, dreams are there just within reach Heather (Katy Clayton) wants to be defined as a fashion designer not as a name to be linked with many numerous boys, Claire (Sarah Kate Howarth) as an Olympic Diver looks like Sporty Spice bouncing around continuously and then there’s petite little swot Zoe (Lauren Jacobs) who the girls say will be doing homework for the rest of her life at University. The naming of the pop group as The Band or as Rachel calls them Boys, is a clever move from writer Tim Firth it keeps our focus on the story making the music and songs as secondary more of a backdrop to the lives unfolding. The five boys in The Band who regardless of time never age, remaining stuck in memories forever young. They pop up around the girls linked in memories, helping with laundry, clearing up broken dishes, smoothing worries away, roadsweepers and baggage handlers, just reminding us they are not just pop royalty and superstars but ordinary people too. AJ, Curtis, Yazdan and Nick are joined by understudy Harry Fabulous Brown for tonight’s performance and they do a great job even making me laugh as they dress as statues in Prague.
I must applaude Andy Williams though who plays a great comic role as Every Dave, from school caretaker, bus driver, to Czech Policeman each time badly humming and trying to sing one of those great songs like my Dad would’ve done back in 1993.
It’s not all memories and great music there’s sadness too that takes your breath away. Those moments that make or break us like the death of a very dear friend and how we cope or don’t in some cases. Rachel explains how life dealt her a double blow and she moves separating her from friends and the girls just move on with life. Until 25 years later and a freak chance sees her winning a competition to see The Band in Prague and what would the chances be; she can take 3 friends. What makes her want to share this moment with friends she hasn’t seen since they were sixteen? Would we all try reaching out this way, do they have unfinished friendships and issues to resolve? Rachel is the lynch pin bringing everyone back together but her life is not as rosy inside as she hopes. Martin Millar plays her partner Jeff, steady dependable Jeff who wants to get married, should come with a mascara warning when Rachel explains to him why she won’t. Our young girls are now all older girls brilliantly portrayed with their own strengths and fears; Rachel Lumberg (Rachel), Alison Fitzjohn (Claire), Emily Joyce (Heather) and Jayne McKenna (Zoe). What draws them back together? The Band and those memories. Music doesn’t define us as much as youth doesn’t define us, we may all share our hopes and dreams.
The Band encourages you gently to look inside, did I follow that path my sixteen year old expected, NO. Am I sad for the path I eventually took, absolutely not for this is me, who I am. Memories are fantastic but they just that memories as much as when I was sixteen I was going to marry whoever took my fancy on the cover of Smash Hits, realistically it was never going to happen but without dreams we are nothing life is boring. Life is defined by who we become, never look back with regret… you absolutely won’t get the chance if you’re watching The Band for you will be waving your mobile phone torch feeling like you’re at a pop concert, you may have to squint to imagine Gary, Mark, Robbie, Howard and Jason up onstage but the boys who were discovered via reality TV competition all do a fabulous job in keeping our attention and also blending into the background when times call for subtleness.
But I can guarantee you will end the night up on your feet, clapping and stomping and singing your heart out, what are you waiting for gather your friends and get your funk on.