The Best Man

  So... book your tickets for this talented duo’s third musical...this one was sold out..! Ok, so it’s not written yet, but it will be eagerly awaited if this offering, and the previous award winning smash hit ‘The Reunion’, is anything to go by! And audiences are usually right!!

  A well decorated foyer with flags and bunting lead us into a rather extravagant opening sequence as we are at the back of the crowd to ‘witness’ the Wedding Parade of Princess Diana to HRH Prince Charles in !981, thus setting the scene and dateline; not really referred to again though..! The story is a simple one, from the Title and opening sequence to the truly ‘normal’ young girl Cathy Price (Sophie Cannell) facing that moment of truth faced by so many naïve young girls as she admits her ‘mistake’ of believing the old ‘first time, no worries’ line peddled by more experienced, perhaps older boys! She was, and this is a compliment on her performance...’very ordinary’...showing just the right amount of angst and concern for others combined with fine vocals personified by her ‘monologue’ song ‘The Thin Blue Line’. Her school friend with a long standing ‘hidden’ crush, Danny Tilney (Stephen Brown) was every inch the shy but loyal friend throughout...he showed his vulnerability with every movement and nuance and matched Cathy in the singing stakes especially in their harmony duet, and the shows ‘big number’, ‘When Love Comes Calling’. Great casting of this duo!

  Now the villain of the piece Tony Wickham (Tom Holt) was the laid back spoiled ‘Jack  the lad’, and every parents nightmare (his and others!). Showing no concern for others to satisfy his own selfish desires and to ‘cash in’ on his fathers successful Carpet business (perhaps the show’s title should have been ‘Shag Pile’!). He had no saving graces and we hated him, and we were meant to! His somehow understated nonchalant self indulgence was exactly right! His Father Ron Wickham (Paul Ashby) was the typical, concerned, but unaware parent, and Shag Pile boss, whose money was at the root of Tony’s behaviour!

  Cathy’s mother Vi Price (Helen Roscoe), showed calm and genuine concern for her daughter but also recognised her own marriage was from a similar ‘mistake’! As did  Cathy’s Gran, Mrs Fanny Hill (Oh please!), played to perfection by Christine Mullord, she had all the best lines and some great, often risqué, double entendres. We loved her and the laughs generated by her comedy timing! Vi’s friend Pat Sharp (Debbie Lambert) had that knowing, ‘been there but would like to be there again,’ look about her, particularly well portrayed in the Boots Chemist scene. Her husband Ron (Mike Catling) much maligned but happy to don the frock as and when required... also in the Boot’s scene! Cathy had some loyal but typical girlfriends, Sharon (Emily Holt) looked good, sang well, and Lisa Smith (Bethan Roscoe) who had a penchant for food...any food, and played up her voracious appetite to great effect at every opportunity! Cathy’s Aunty Margaret (Sarah Cook) showed a lovely comedy style appearing at just the wrong moments (I guess we all have one!), great facials to match!

  Not a Panto, but we had an archetypal stereotyped baddy Mr.‘Shirley’ Temple (Bob Sharman) with two, ever so slightly dim, henchmen, Curly (Lee Peck) and Slim (Jeremy Watts) a menacing trio of ever I saw one! Dark glasses and threats ‘to die for’...unless Tony paid up! Act One ended with a rousing number ‘Vitto Dell Amore’ with Company and Principals, plus Maitre D (Peter Simmen) camping it up...and with effective choreography emphasising the catchy chorus as each time a new ‘question’ from Tony to Cathy is interrupted, and leading to his surprise, but half hearted proposal ! Sadly for his own ends, as we already knew!

  Act Two opens with Cathy’s family busily singing ‘Lots To Do’, leading onto the really funny cameo from Rev’d Collins (Gary Watson) as he obsequiously dithers around the perennial question of marriage nuptials with ‘The Facts Of Life’. We then have our first introduction to the show’s most memorable song, ‘When Love Comes Calling’...so effectively reprised in the finale. We loved the ‘Down Memory Lane’ number with Vi, Pat, Gran, Sharon, Lisa  and Cathy, as they embark on Cathy’s stag do! Interrupted by the ‘long arm’ of the law Policeman (Jason Lambert) with a tremendous ‘stripper gram’ cameo before a difficult night out for Cathy as she learns the truth about Tony! Posh girls (Jayne Andrew and Sam Fennelly) who would never buy a carpet from a warehouse...Spilled the beans, overheard by Cathy, as they dolled up ready for a night with a ‘bit of rough’...Tony of course! So, the truth is out... Enter Danny still agonising over his dilemma, as he now knows Tony does not love Cathy...BUT the wedding is tomorrow and no one has time to listen! He is of course Tony’s Best Man...well he must have watched ‘The Graduate’...Just as the Vicar asks the ‘dangerous’ question... ‘If anyone knows why ...etc’. Suddenly it all hits the fan as Tony hits Danny and the truth is out in public...exit Tony and of course Danny and Cathy embrace...cue the grand finale, ‘When Love Comes Calling’ sung with verve and belief as  we just know they will eventually marry (Must keep those ‘Mills and Boon’ books away from the author !). We all love a happy ending, and this was just that, with big music, confetti, hand clapping and deserved standing ovations. Great stuff!

  This is another piece of  superb entertainment...maybe a bit more predictable than ‘The Reunion’, but for exuberance and musicality it scores very high on the enjoyment scale and with this quality cast it ticks all the boxes...get to see if you can!

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