The new musical, Wild About You, with music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy and book by Eric Holmes, opens for an exclusive two-day run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This staged concert gives a taste of the drama, talent and performances audiences can expect if Wild About You is taken to a full production.
The story surrounds Olivia, an emotionally charged woman who has battled with her feelings and where she should be throughout her life. When she wakes up one day in the hospital, unable to remember her life or who her emergency contact is, she takes a trip down memory lane to discover who is most important to her and where they place in her life.
The set is, as expected, limited due to the show being a temporary production and in essence, a staged concert. However, screens and lighting are used effectively during the production to portray different plot points and the characters are on stage throughout. A few key set pieces such as a hospital bed, a sofa and a bar, along with the cast performances, blend well to set the scene.
Both Oliver Tompsett as Thomas and Eric McCormack as Michael connected well to their characters and their relationships with Olivia. Tompsett was able to show two sides of Thomas’s character – the happy go lucky artist and the man who had to pay for his past mistakes. McCormack struck a commendable balance between a caring partner and father bordering on controlling behaviour. Although the material at times wasn’t sufficient for the actors to showcase their vast talent, the script was used extensively, and it showed in the execution of their performances.
Rachel Tucker leads as Olivia, shining brightly in this role. Her gritty, powerful belt is the driving force behind the show, her duets and harmonies with the other actors creating magic on stage. Though Tucker steals the show, Todrick Hall’s characters as Nurse Shae and Robin could give her a run for her money. His light-hearted judgmental attitude and perfectly delivered comedy is exactly what the show needs to prevent it from delving too much deeper into darker topics.
Despite a few teething problems common for a staged production, such as mic trouble and the music being slightly too loud for the cast’s voices, the production makes some artistic choices. The staging and blocking along with the characters looking in on the action in a Brechtian style and breaking the fourth wall are impressive choices. A scene mocking social media and people in general gave into stereotypes but worked well.
Tori Allen-Martin as Jessica was perfectly cast. She portrayed Jessica’s hard exterior mirrored with her soft spot for Olivia particularly well. Allen-Martin’s facial expressions were modest and believable and more sombre moments were heartfelt.
Jamie Muscato as Billy, Olivia’s son, was memorable, particularly as his character only made an appearance in the second Act. His buttery voice and soft tone in ‘Dangerous Lines’ paired with his emotional performance of a young adult battling with life changing revelations is perfectly balanced. He shines in comedic moments, his lines timed to perfection.
While the music and lyrics of the numbers are promising and help create character arcs and add to the story, at times the songs felt excessive and unnecessary to drive the somewhat weak storyline forward. The casting, however, was spot on, with each cast member giving maximum energy and smashing their role. The duets between Olivia and Thomas were well choreographed, moving and appropriately harmonised. Tucker and McCormack’s rendition of ‘Bad Day Box’ at the beginning of the show set the tone for the chemistry and powerful blocking throughout the show.
Reviewer: Maani Way
Reviewed: 25th March 2024
North West End UK Rating: