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Nick Curtis's rating
, Time to Take That and party
By
Nick Curtis
12 May 2008
Time was when the idea of a major Take That musical in the West End would have looked a risky endeavour. Songbook musicals were usually critically panned and rarely ran for long, even those featuring the music of Elvis and The Beatles, surely the most solid of back-catalogues. But that was before the advent of Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You. With dimwitted plots and cartoonish acting grafted, respectively, onto the songs of Abba and Queen, these shows have defied critics to run for years in London, spawning numerous overseas productions and spinning major amounts of money. With the strictly biographical Jersey Boys also doing well, it looked like the curse of the compilation had been broken.
So, one can see the thinking behind Never Forget. Take That have a substantial and loyal fan-base. The most successful boyband of the Nineties, they had eight number one singles, and recently clawed their way out the pit of naff with a successful comeback tour, albeit minus their most famous alumnus, Robbie “UFO spotter” Williams. Indeed, the legal and personal tiffs following the band’s split may explain why Never Forget’s producers have decided to tell the story of a Take That tribute band, trying to save a pub run by their lead singer’s mum, rather than of the boys themselves.
This story was dreamed up by Danny Brocklehurst, Bafta-winning writer for Shameless and Clocking Off, but Guy Jones and director Ed Curtis, neither of them particularly well-known, are also credited as writers. The most prominent member of the creative team — apart, of course, from song-writer Gary Barlow — is arguably choreographer Karen Bruce. This in itself means nothing, and Never Forget comes to London after a successful tour. But there is a spectre hovering.
Desperately Seeking Susan had another impeccable pop back catalogue, Blondie’s, and a story half-inched from a popular cult film. It closed after two weeks.
Opening Wednesday 21 May. Information: 0870 1648787, or www. neverforgetthemusical.com.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (3)
Written by Bafta winner Danny Brocklehurst (Clocking Off and Shameless), Never Forget is a spectacular feast of music and dance which triumphs in its bold attempt to recreate the magic of one of the biggest boy bands of the Nineties, who are as popular today as they were then.
Slim though the plot is, it's bolstered by dazzling dance sequences, great vocal performances and a sprinkling of cheeky humour, the only let down being the dull set: at the rear of the stage limits the depth of space. But what the show lacks in scenery, it more than makes up for in special effects.
The pièce de résistance in its bag of tricks is the rain scene in which, in a nod to Singin’ in the Rain, Ash (Dean Chisnall) and his girlfriend Chloe (Sophia Ragavelas) sing in a real rain shower against a backdrop of energetic mackintosh-clad dancers armed with umbrellas. It's an exhilarating spectacle of which Gene Kelly would have been proud.
Of course, the real stars of the show are the songs, and Chisnall delivers them with aplomb as he tries to win back his girlfriend and make the big time with his band mates, but there are moments when both his and Ragavelas' sudden bursts of song jar a little where dialogue would have been more suited. It’s a minor quibble, though, considering the colour, style and sheer energy pervading the story.
This will appeal to both die-hard fans and non-believers alike. Prepare to be entertained.
- Susannah Donkor, London, England, 04/06/2008 01:52
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Must beg to differ with Nick Curtis. To compare 'Never Forget' with 'Desperately Seeking Susan' is a travesty. DSS was truly appalling - a terrible production with poor choreography, a weak story line and dreadful American accents; so appalling in fact that we left at the interval. 'Never Forget', in contrast, was exhilarating, witty, energetic with superb choreography and singing. The cast nearly got a standing ovation after the brilliant rain scene and by the end the whole audience was in raptures. Without a doubt, this was the best musical that I have seen since 'Billy Elliott' and that includes 'The Sound of Music' , 'Cabaret' and 'Mamma Mia'. 'Never Forget' is a show for Take That fans and for those who are indifferent to them. I would count myself as one of the latter but nevertheless have no hesitation in recommending this show to everyone.
- Sue Surridge, London, England, 22/05/2008 10:01
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- Susannah Donkor, Forest Hill, London, 16/05/2008 12:59
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