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Jackie - The Musical
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
***** IN
TERMS of winning ingredients for a musical, this show takes some
beating. Take a hugely popular teenage magazine from the 1970s, sprinkle
in some pop classics of the day, garnish with stories of broken hearts
and the result is potentially a delicious mix. Given that
most of the audience are middle aged women and, therefore, the biggest
demographic of theatre ticket buyers, the concept is a clever one. The
audience are already fans - ex-avid
readers of the magazine and up for a nostalgia fuelled evening from the
very start. Long
before the instant information base of the internet,
Jackie was a
much loved and eagerly anticipated weekly publication for teenage girls,
hungry for news of their favourite pop stars or advice on how to attract
boys. A simple but winning formula that adapts perfectly to the juke box
musical genre. The story
centres on our heroine, Jackie (of course ), a 54 old woman reflecting
on her life after finding a stash of her old magazines in the attic.
With her husband now in the arms of another, she finds herself alone and
facing a future of online dating and marmite on toast. Her
teenage self (deliciously played by Daisy Steere ) accompanies her on
her retrospective journey, played against a backdrop of gloriously
familiar tunes.
It’s all a
very clever way of platforming the beating heart of the show . . . the
music and the routines. But unlike some other examples of the juke box
genre, there is at least an attempt here to weave a credible story
amongst the songs. Janet
Dibley is clearly having a ball as Jackie. Every observation on life
gets audible sounds of recognition from an audience who have clearly
been on the journey with her. Dibley gives the show a real anchor,
adding measured subtlety to an accompanying frenzy of high energy
numbers. A strong
ensemble never drop the energy and fill the genuinely exciting routines
with real commitment throughout. Arlene Phillips provides tight, fresh
and characterful choreography. Jim
Shorhall’s set design mirrors the period well and is embellished by some
clever speech bubble cards - a lovely nod to magazine ‘photo stories ‘ It is rare to see such a connection between a show and its audience. Every David Cassidy and Donny Osmond lyric was joined in with, every little problem was sympathised with and every dilemma identified with. ‘That happened to my mate, once! ‘exclaimed a woman sitting to my left. Not great audience etiquette, perhaps, but proof she was into the story at least! Most
of the audience are witnessing an observation of their own lives. They
love it because they have lived it. This isn’t
a classic piece of theatre. It doesn't offer sub text or any deep
narrative, It’s not trying to be ‘important‘ or ‘worthy’. It is,
however, glorious fun and exactly what it says on the tin. A sea of
unashamed nostalgia. Go and bathe in it. To 28-05-16
Tom Roberts 24-05-16
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