EntertainmentTheatre

The Commitments at the Liverpool Empire Review

commitmentsThe Commitments
Liverpool Empire

17-21 January 2017

www.atgtickets.com/liverpool

Reviewed by Jan Mellor

The story of some young 20+ year olds growing up in the 1980’s in the centre of Dublin, frustrated, angry and dissatisfied with their surroundings and existence but especially by the electronic ‘S**t*’ (their words) music of the charts. Jimmy sets about setting up a band – a band whose music demonstrates the SOUL that is missing in the music of his era and he discovers it is actually in SOUL music itself that he craves. He auditions for people from his living room (much to his Elvis-loving dad’s dismay) and appoints the ‘live-wire’ Deco (who has a fantastic voice but is extremely temperamental and a big drinker!), Billy (who hates Deco), Dean, Mickah (the anarchist /skinhead) Outspan, the ‘Reverend’ Joey “the Lips” and Derek. With the addition of three gorgeous girls – Natalie, Imelda and Bernie The Commitments are formed. The story is about the trials and tribulations that the group face and is injected with fabulous songs and equally fabulous dancing and singing. There are fights, tantrums, successes and heartbreaks (the heartbreaks very often due to Joey’s indiscretions with the girls from the band!) but the band are musically very talented and record deals are beckoning…

I love the music of ‘The Commitments’ and so if you, like me, have the music is the main reason to attend this show you will love it. The stars have amazing voices and sang all the well-known hits from the film – Proud Mary’, ‘Mr. Pitiful’, ‘Chain of fools’, ‘Treat her right’, ‘Try a little tenderness’ and of course the renowned ‘Mustang Sally’ plus loads more. (‘Knock on wood, Midnight mover, Think etc.). The show was two and a half hours long including the break and the ensemble put their hearts and soul (pardon the pun!) into it. It was slightly late at both the start and after the interval which meant that I had to leave before the finale which was a pity. I thought some of the scenes lacked lustre and were a little long – but the songs made up for this. I took my 12 year old son with me and he loved it!

Rating: 3.5/5

Tickets clost from £14.90 to £55.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

The Commitments is at the Liverpool Empire until 21 January 2017. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the bos office on 0844 8713017.

Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1JE | 0844 8713017

3 half Star

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