Mmm, Mmm The Musical DURING my 17 years as a reviewer, I had never (apart from a couple of classical music compositions) reviewed a World Premiere . Never, that is, until I attended the first-night of the locally written Mmm, Mmm the Musical at Wisbech s
Mmm, Mmm The Musical
DURING my 17 years as a reviewer, I had never (apart from a couple of classical music compositions) reviewed a 'World Premiere'. Never, that is, until I attended the first-night of the locally written Mmm, Mmm the Musical at Wisbech's Angles Theatre.
Written by Katrina Mason, and directed by her sister Michele Larkin, with musical direction by Phill Mason and Ross Griggs, this curiously named piece of theatre more than aroused my curiosity.
Presented by the modestly titled Unbelievably Marvellous Productions, it is redolent of Terence Rattigan's Separate tables, but set in a bogus French restaurant.
Spotlighting, literally, the personal lives of the diners, it veers from the poignant to the humorous. And one wonders how their domestic traumas don't cause them acute indigestion.
The restaurant setting is sumptuous, and the dancing of the trio of glamorous waitresses, along with the barman, is well-choreographed. The musical accompaniment, particularly by pianist Kieran Lowe, is delightfully unobtrusive.
Every member of the cast (apart from the hilarious chefs) has a good singing voice, with Tom Clarke excelling with his superb tenor tones.
There are several tuneful vocals, however, Becky Key shows her prowess singing You are Everything, and excellent vocals come from Alison Shippey in the heartfelt Broken, and Tom Clarke with Run Away.
Most impressive singer and actress is performing arts student Beccy Gilbert.
After a rather pedestrian beginning, this locally created musical gives the audience and accelerating, theatrical roller-coaster ride, before its surprising, hyper-dramatic conclusion.
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