Hull New Theatre, Hull – until Saturday 16th March 2024
Reviewed by Anne Walker
5*****
This show is direct from the West End and comes to the Hull New Theatre as part of a major UK and Ireland tour. The Drifters Girl was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards. It includes a phenomenal soundtrack, packed full of iconic drifters hits you will instantly recognise, including, ‘Saturday Night at the Movies,’ ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ and ‘Stand by Me.’
We discovered the remarkable story of The Drifters and the powerhouse female force that managed the all-male vocal group, Faye Treadwell, played by the incredible Carly Mercedes Dyer. She became one of the first prominent African American woman to enter music management and led the band to greatness with laser-sharp business acumen and determination.
The cast truly delivered stellar performances that brought the iconic music of The Drifters to life, weaving a captivating story in between some great hits. From the moment the fantastic band started playing those familiar tunes, you couldn’t help but tap your toes. The classics from The Drifters had the entire audience in nostalgic bliss while heads were nodding in time to many of the familiar tunes. The four Drifters themselves, played by Miles Anthony Daley, Ashford Campbell, Daniel Haswell and Tarik Frimpong, had voices that seamlessly blended together and were all superb. They never stopped throughout the show, playing multiple roles as well as their phenomenal singing and dance moves.
Carly Mercedes Dryer as Faye Treadwell certainly shone bright on stage and her rendition of ‘Harlem Child’ was breathtaking with power house vocals.
Overall, The Drifters Girl is a must-see for any music lover or theatre enthusiast, the audience certainly showed their appreciation and could not contain themselves as the encore invited us to get up and dance. With catchy familiar tunes, a touching, inspiring story and fantastic performances all round. This show is a true gem that will leave you humming the melodies long after the final curtain