IF you met your 18-year-old self, what would you say to them? Gemma should tell herself not to marry that awful Yuppie who bowled her over with his shiny suit and briefcase. April might say that slogging away as a jobbing actor would eventually pay off - in a way she would never expect.
In NOW That’s What I Call a Musical, we meet best friends Gemma and April as teenagers in 1989. Fast forward 20 years and Gemma is at a rather lacklustre school reunion, minus her old pal.
This show is inspired by the NOW compilation albums, and the score is a shamelessly nostalgic play list of 80s bangers - St Elmo's Fire, Video Killed the Radio Star, Gold and You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) among them - with a Nineties nod too.
The plot is flimsy, and some of the Eighties references aren't quite right - no-one used a bank card to rent a £1.99 video in 1989 and who said "How very dare you?" until the Noughties? And, as a teenage girl in the 80s, I don't recall a fist bump greeting. Pedantic, I know, but this is a musical rooted in the 80s, and those who were there pick up on this stuff.
Pedantry aside, this is a fun, feelgood show performed by a cracking cast. The set takes us back and forth, in seamless flashbacks, and Pippa Evans' witty script sparkles. There are cute touches - not least the Planet of the Tapes video shop, the 80s/90s advert references (remember the 'Walls Sausages' dog?) and the Flashdance routine, which was a total hoot.
And scenes where the two leads - beautifully played by Nina Wadia, as Gemma, and Melissa Jacques as April - 'meet' their teenage selves and reflect on their lives were moving.
This is a funny, quirky show, which leaps off the stage thanks to Craig Revel Horwood's innovative choreography. A dream-like version of Toni Basil's Mickey was a highlight, along with Gemma and April's rousing performance of Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves. What an incredible voice Melissa Jacques has!
There's a lovely cameo from Jay Osmond, as a teen idol in a white suit appearing in a haze of dry ice to give Gemma some life advice. His performance of Crazy Horses got the crowd whooping.
Great performances all round from a talented cast, especially Maia Hawkins and Nikita Johal as the younger April and Gemma.
Shakil Hussain was an endearing Frank; the show's warmth glowed brightly in the family scenes with Frank, Gemma and their parents, nicely played by Poppy Tierney and Christopher Glover, and Luke Latchman as young Frank.
Chris Grahamson and Blake Tuke were both excellent as the older and versions of city slicker Tim and there were impressive comic turns from Callum Tempest as hapless Barney and Phil Sealey as rocker Steve.
Gloriously nostalgic!
* Now that’s What I call a Musical runs at the Alhambra until Saturday.
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