In the great fringe tradition, Saucy Jacks and the Space Vixens begins before you even enter Manchester’s TriBeCa venue. An American diner waitress takes the tickets, a moody cabaret boss is sat in the corner and the club acts are cleaning tables and interacting with the audience members, even sending voice messages using peoples’ phones. A delay to press night was another chance for improv as one of the cast ushered the audience back upstairs, declaring “some diva isn’t ready”. But if the production feels haphazard when you arrive, the quality of the material and performances soon convince you otherwise.
The show isn’t new. After premiering in Edinburgh in 1995, Saucy Jacks has been staged by both amateur and professional groups – on and off – ever since. The overarching theme isn’t ground-breaking either. A group of misfits find the courage to truly become themselves and shine. However, the energetic and innuendo-stuffed sci-fi musical is pretty infectious.
This production authentically transports the audience to its dingy, downstairs club setting with scenes playing out behind the bar and among the crowd.
The eponymous Jack (Joel Dyer) is the prime suspect when yet another of his downtrodden performers is bumped off with a slingback heel to the heart. Enter the Space Vixens – a glitter boot-wearing, crime-fighting trio – who land on planet Frottage III to track down the serial killer and set everyone free with the power of disco. It’s a fun romp although it’s showing its age in parts. A reveal that two of the characters have a PVC and rubber fetish doesn’t really have the shock factor anymore.
Plenty of the numbers sound like songs you think you know already but don’t. But there are some unique highlights too. Cheer Up Bunny is standout, All I Need Is Disco is a toe-tapping, crowd-pleasing classic and it’s impossible not to hum Glitter Boots Saved My Life on the way out.
Special mention to Solaya Sang as Bunny Lingus who was funny, heart-breaking and in very fine voice. Callum O’Rourke, MJ Manning and Michael Loftus were all satisfyingly likeable as Sammy Sax, Booby Shevalle and Mitch Maypole. Dyer, who also successfully directs the show, was missing some of the much-needed sleaze and debauchery the part of Jack calls for.
Ian Fox’s fabulous costumes and the disco/1920s-inspired choreography from Suzanne Fulton help make the production feel far from ordinary. There were, though, some audio issues. The size of the venue didn’t really call for personal microphones. A decision that appeared to lead to some muffled performances as cast members relied on amplification over projection.
It takes a while for the show to reach its inevitable conclusion and there was probably one ‘final thought’ too many but when the end comes the negatives really don’t matter. The audience are brought to their feet to dance and clap with the cast. A chaotic, camp classic.
Playing until the 11th September https://manchester.ssboxoffice.com/events/saucy-jack-and-the-space-vixens/
Reviewer: Peter Ruddick
Reviewed: 7th September 2021
North West End UK Rating: ★★★