|
|
|
|
|
Sally Ann Matthews, left, as Patricia and Lara Denning as Caz. Picture: Danny Kaan Here and Now – The Steps Musical Wolverhampton Grand *** It’s all happening at the coastal branch of Better Best Bargains Superstore where employees Caz, Vel, Neeta and Robbie are revving up for what they hope will be a summer of love and serious dancing in the aisles. Sadly, for them, as well as Baked Beans and Multi Packs, the shelves are stocked with dashes of betrayal and lies which threaten to derail the party and turn the checkouts into a battle zone. Premise set, what comes next is a musical journey set to the hits of Steps as the pals try their best to get back on track and find the happy ending they are yearning for. There are problems in the show’s flow and construction. Not enough time is given to explore the narrative. Characters are very loosely drawn and feel under-explored, touching on potentially interesting relationships, but then randomly going into a different direction before we get the chance to savour a scene fully. Moments feel wasted at times. The bright and functional set is almost cartoon like, combining the stark lines of a supermarket floor with pleasing exteriors of the seaside path running behind it. It’s a perfect template for the surge of energy released from a hard-working cast. Routines are strong and often innovative, delivering camp and crisp interpretations of Step’s wall to wall catchy classics. The loose structure and tame jokes are more pantomime than genuine musical theatre. The problem here is that it’s an acceptable - even accepted - convention in panto. In this setting, it feels a little underdeveloped. The story needs more fleshing out. There are highlights. Lara Denning as Caz has likeability in spades and delivers her songs beautifully. Her slowed down version of One for Sorrow is a showstopper. Sally Ann Mathews fizzes too as the store manager, Patricia … throwing in random French words to comic effect and tottering majestically around her domain. Matt Spencer–Smith’s tight and punchy band ramps up the energy well, faithfully recreating the hyper produced sound of Steps' music. All that said, ultimately what matters most to the audience on this show is the music. Those catchy crowd pleasers that have defined one of the UK’s most enduring pop outfits for over 20 years. It’s pretty simple really...if you like Steps, you will love this. Camp as Christmas … put on those sequins and join the party. Tom Roberts 10-03-26 |
|
|
|
