Our House
Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company
Lichfield Garrick
****
I saw Madness play live twice.
They were fabulous, raucous, and with a touch of music hall about them.
I am also a gig going veteran of the era when
they formed. Their incubation was not seamless.
They morphed from what might best be described
euphemistically as a lad band, through innovative interpretations of
traditional Ska and Two Tone , to a band whose lyrics were known
verbatim by junior school age children.
That trans-generational travel and appeal has
served their longevity well. Their milieu is the three minute pop song,
accessible lyrics, ubiquitous subject matter, and vocalist Suggs’
deadpan delivery.
All of which does not necessarily equate with a
hit musical, so I approached the night with an ear expectant of familiar
songs, and an eye curious as to what I would see.
SCMTC are good at this sort of production, big
dance numbers have always been their strength, and with a thirty plus
cast, they can handle what is needed.
Great singing is not a requirement to sing
Madness songs, attitude and enthusiasm is. Fortunately, you will never
find this company lacking in that department. The winner of an Olivier
Award, Our House, which opened in 2002, was written by Tim
Firth, who also penned Calendar Girls.
It tells the story of Joe Casey (Matt Branson)
who, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, commits a petty crime in a
bid to impress the girl of his dreams, Sarah (Sophie Hammond). When the
police arrive he faces a life changing decision; does he stay and own up
like an honest man, or make his escape and go on the run? The
opportunity to perform the Clash song Should I Stay or Should I Go?
is surely missed here.
Joe’s world splits in two, and, in a sliding
doors moment, two very different paths unfold before him. Whilst
offering dramatic possibility, particularly when there are two Joes on
stage, the narrative can feel a little muddled, as we are offered two
very different outcomes for Joe, depending on which decision he had
taken.
Themes explored include love, family values,
growing up, responsibility and dealing with losing the people that shape
us, throwing a bit of Blood Brothers into the sliding doors
mix.
Ben Addams enjoys playing villain Reecey. Mark
Skett dominates the stage as Joe’s Dad, a part played by Suggs for a
time in the original stage show, his performance of One Better Day
being the solo highlight of the night.
Elisa Gorle (Angie), Chloe Child (Billie) Adam
Coulthard (Lewis) and Anil Patel (Emmo) provide welcome comic relief as
two comic double acts. The big production numbers are well handled by
choreographer Maggie Jackson, she imaginatively incorporates a 42nd
Street interlude into the middle of a stretched out
Embarrassment by introducing a female chorus line, sequins and all.
Musical Director Sheila Pearson produces an authentic period sound,
whilst still offering musical theatre production values. Saxophonist Jen
Pollock will have gone home exhausted.
A greatest hits medley opens as an instrumental
overture, before kicking into a storming Our House, and from
there the fun never really stops. All the songs were written by the
band, with the exception of Labbi Siffre’s, It Must Be Love.
Tomorrow's Just Another Day and One Better Day are
great, superbly crafted, songs, even if at the time of release they were
not best sellers.
English, laconic and wry, they are strong
counter-points to the obvious rabble rousers Our House Baggy
Trousers and Embarrassment. When in doubt, Our House
appeared again to keep things moving musically. The production is
wonderful, the sets bold, the dancing and choreography infectious, and
the songs and singing rousing, nostalgic and entertaining.
No fan of Madness, or anyone who
listened to the radio in the 1980s, will leave the auditorium
disappointed. But it is the songs that carry the night, with director
Faye Easto doing a valiant job at driving a libretto which often has a
tangential relationship with the music.
Fortunately, the finale is just for fun with the
company basting through One Step Beyond and the other best bits
with conviction and commitment, brio and elan. Runs to 21-10-17
Gary Longden
17-10-17
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