Reviewer: Christine Stanton
Writer & Director: Debbie Isitt
Music & Lyrics: Stock Aitken Waterman
“Cheerfully Cheesy”
4 / 5
Compiling Stock Aitken Waterman’s poptastic chart toppers and making them into a jukebox musical was inevitable. High-energy, full of fun, loud, proud and perfect for a crowd – I Should Be So Lucky is one of the most cheerfully cheesy productions on the theatre circuit at the moment!
Ella (Lucie-Mae Sumner) and Nathan (Billy Roberts) are about to have the wedding of their dreams and live together happily ever after. That is, until Nathan’s grandad stuns him with a devastating family secret that shuts the ceremony down, leaving Ella jilted and heartbroken. Thankfully her friends and family are on hand to whisk her off on her honeymoon – a romantic resort in Turkey, where she does her best to move on and find her inner diva. Cue Nathan, realising he’s made a huge mistake, and best man (Giovanni Spanὀ) Ash who is pretty much straight out of a TOWIE episode and ready to help save the situation for his best mate.
The narrative itself is slight with bizarrely unexpected revelations, tangled connections and miscommunications in abundance. While some of the storylines seem to be scribbled in quickly with no real reasoning such as Britney (Jessica Daley) being a gambling addict or Revel Harrington III (Dominic Andersen) being a fraud, they add to the soap-opera style atmosphere and characterisations that strangely work within a show like this! Comedy is drawn on frequently throughout the show, with Spanὀ and Scott Paige (Michael) at the heart of most of the humorous scenes. Both actors are brilliantly funny and lean into the exaggerated, pantomime style acting that their characters require. There are some sweet moments too, one in particular is when Kayla Carter (Bonnie) lays her feelings on the line for Ash as she contemplates when it’ll be her time to find someone and settle down. Carter is extremely personable, and utilises the on-stage chemistry with Ash well to weave in the additional side story.
Plus, what is lacking in plot is made up for with big glitzy dance numbers choreographed by Jason Gilkison, wonderful visuals and excellent staging. Tom Rogers set and costume design is a romcom fever dream. Hearts and glitter are absolutely everywhere – everything is so bright and vibrant, and matches the upbeat pop music style perfectly. The fast-moving show requires a variety of backdrops, and visually, the audience is never disappointed. Whether it’s a gigantic stained glass heart at the Church, the matching airport loungewear, a sky full of hot air balloons in Turkey or the glitzy casino in Greece – each costume fits fantastically, and each set is big, bold and brilliant – a huge factor into the success of this show.
If you’re looking for a serious story full of complex intricacies – this isn’t it, but if you’re just happy to turn a blind eye at some of the silliness in the plot, have a fun night out, with a great soundtrack that’ll make you Step Back In Time then this show is Especially For You.
Runs Until 3 February 2024 then continues to tour
RatedReviewed 
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