|
Copacabana
What to do? What to say? Shall they carry our Lola away? Not all musicals can be Les Miserables, not all musicals ought to be Les Miserables. There is still a market for feel-good, easy-listening Summer Special type shows with pretty girls and boys in pretty frocks. Copacabana delivers this and more - tonight's audience lapped it up and were asking for more. All the best musicals are a combination of powerful music, emotional lyrics and an engaging plot. So how does Copacabana fare when compared with these criteria? It is probably best not to dwell on the plot. It is not worth discussing. You know the song - there is precious little else going on. Does it matter? Nah! Barry Manilow is capable of writing some attractive melodies. The show contains a good number of them. Can I remember them? I regret to say that only the title song stuck in my mind. Again, does it matter? Nope. Copacabana is a classic piece of style over substance. It is pure entertainment. For those looking for a searing exposition of the treatment of women in the 1940s, try another theatre. For a thought provoking discussion on the nature of love - again, look elsewhere! AWP have accepted a major challenge by mounting this tour - it requires music and passion (!) and plenty of glamour. The set, to be blunt, appears to be little more than hardboard, glitter and glow-in-the-dark paint. It smacks of the amateur stage. Having said that, it is clear where the money has gone - the costumes. They are sumptuous, feathery and sparkling - a real triumph. This, more than many other musicals, requires a number of knock-out performances. As Lola/Samantha, Louise Freeman excels. She has a strong voice and a winning presence, bringing some much needed humour to the role. I also particularly enjoyed Christopher Howard (Sam) and Craig Ryder (Willy the Waiter). Gemma Craven is the only real 'name' in the production - her role is limited in scope, but she makes the best of it. I was a little disappointed in Nik Stoter as Stephen/Tony. He has a pleasant voice and a good deal of stage charm. However, there wasn't the sort of spark or vitality to his performance that was really necessary to carry the show. The Boys and Girls of the ensemble were consistent in their smiles and exceedingly well choreographed. I was impressed by their energy and commitment. Copacabana is a wonderful piece of traditional summertime entertainment. It won't challenge you. It will entertain you. I was prepared to not enjoy myself - I was pleasantly surprised. My fellow audience members clearly had a great time. Who am I to argue with that? Simon
Tavener |