OUR HOUSE

Our House is a jukebox musical first performed in the early noughties. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2002. The book was written by Tim Firth and all the music comes from the back catalogue of the English ska band MADNESS. There are two acts and 26 musical numbers divided equally between them.

In essence, it is an ‘Everyman’ morality tale… Joe Casey (Harry Hudson) grows up in Casey Street, Camden NW1 in a house (the ‘our house’ of the title) and estate originally built by his grandfather. But since then, things have gone downhill. His Dad (Kris Spratt) died after a career of criminality based on a series of bad choices; so he has been brought up by his long-suffering single mum, Kath (Judith Leese). He is a popular lad, but in the course of a failed minor break-in motivated by a desire to impress his girlfriend Sarah (Rebecca Currie) Joe has to make a crucial choice… does he give himself up to the police closing in on him, or make a run for it.?

The musical explores both choices and asks its audience to reflect on which would have been the better choice. The ‘black’ Joe who runs away and escapes the law, and after a minor career in crime goes into property development and great materialistic success, even wins back Sarah. He is the toast and envy of his friends and the local community until he gets involved with the very man whose premises he broke into originally. In the course of one final ‘big’ job he risks everything in a fundamental act of family betrayal. Is his a success story?, or has he sold his soul right from the start?

The alternative ‘white’ Joe takes the rap for breaking and entering, but he gets more than he bargained for in the form of a prison sentence. Every step he takes thereafter is dogged by this initial mis-step. He faces prejudice and rejection and sinks further into unintended crime. He discovers that virtue is not any sort of reward, certainly in the face of contempt and gradual falling away on the part of his friends, including – apparently – Sarah. The two stories merge deftly at the end and the community is preserved.

In and out of these parallel stories wander a series of commentators – Joe’s Dad ghostly warning him against repeating his own destructive narrative, and two pairs of friends Emmo & Lewis (C J Binns and Kieren Simm), both goofy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern types, and Billie & Angie (Ashleigh McMaster and Shaunagh Burge) who flit opportunistically between fawning admiration and disdain according to where Joe’s fortunes are headed. Villains come in the form of Mr Pressman (Michael Douglas) the dodgy property developer, and petty crook Reecey (Dan Dickinson); the cast is completed by a large ensemble who age with the principals as the story progresses.

I loved the production; well directed and choreographed by Jackie Grey, whose dancers and ensemble delivered some good moves but never really got to ‘kick their height’, due to the confines of the stage and scenery. John Hudson’s live, on-stage band were first class. I, like many of my age love the music of MADNESS, but unfortunately, because of its style and genre, it does not, in my opinion, provide the emotion and feeling necessary to support the musical theatre requirements of the storyline.

A number of the performances stand out. Star of the show Harry Hudson, at the tender age of 17, (and with 29 costume changes) displays huge physical and mental stamina in the central role; endearing himself to his audience. Rebecca Currie makes the most of the seemingly limited opportunities she has to develop her character, especially in her quieter reflective moments; beautifully sung in the second act. Kris Spratt draws us into the rueful sadness of the father’s backwards glances and Judith Leese succeeds in portraying the hard-pressed single mother, always seeing the best side of her son. The large supporting ensemble deliver both strong characterisations and lusty vocals throughout, richly deserving the standing ovation given at the final curtain.

Our House certainly was a ‘house of fun’, providing an enjoyable night out with the colour and technical prowess on display that deserves high praise.

Thanks for the invitation and hospitality. We look forward to CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG in 2024.

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