Dolly Parton’s hits such as “9-5″ and “Islands in the stream” grace the stage of Liverpool’s Empire Theatre this week for a wacky and wonderful comedy take on a diehard fan’s troublesome times, and the dreams that see him through “when reality and fantasy intertwine” – as Paul Wills (set & costume designer) says. This is “Here you come again”.
Immediately the story begins and we meet Kevin Rutter played by Steven Webb, in his attic kitted out in shrine for Dolly. He takes us back to Covid-19 pandemic times… very controversial I thought given the elapsed time and a somewhat dare we say distant memory, but the political humour as the story went on was a real trust the process and something that I felt worked to a high degree. Kevin is a struggling comic awaiting his break, and albeit maybe we as the audience all had a different path, in those times when pandemic hit we recognise the struggles, making it a relatable and immersive experience.
Webb was absolutely endearing in every sense of the word, he knew how to claim the laughter of the audience during musical numbers such as “Jolene” where he dons a striking resemblance to Dolly’s opposition, but also during the more intimate moments in which we feel immersed in the setting of the attic, really lapping up all the quirks and traits he embodies. It was a real “through the lens” moment. As 1 of 3 Writers, Bruce Vilanch says “you’ll recognise some of the things Kevin goes through even if you’ve never heard a Dolly Parton song.”
Charlotte Elisabeth Yorke who played Dolly in tonight’s show was a fantastic embodiment of the star. She captivated the audience during each rendition and had everyone joining in and laughing and singing where appropriate. Yorke and Webb were a fantastic duo, their comedic timing and humour was notably commendable and complimentary to one another.
One thing I did notice was the minimalistic costume changes yet extravagant detailing of Dolly, Paul Wills who designed the set and costume says “The musical is bursting at the seams with heart, and I never wanted to overshadow that with flashy, over-the-top designs” and I whole heartedly applaud him in the achievement of this. The vision of “Kevin’s world” had me questioning “So did he dream this?” in the best way possible, on a number of occasions.
On the whole, a real nostalgic performance worthy of your evening should you fancy a toe tap to some classic Dolly. It’s worth noting that the story does not follow Dolly, she is just a layer that is so well fleshed out, which is what I feel makes this appeal to so many age groups.
Reviewer: Manda Elizabeth
Reviewed: 3rd December 2024
North West End UK Rating: