Reviewed by Rosemary Knight
On Tuesday evening, I went with my husband to The Lowry theatre in Salford Quays, Manchester to watch BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer Jonathan Harvey’s spectacular Dusty, The Dusty Springfield Musical. The theatre was packed to capacity with an expectant audience and we could tell by the atmosphere that we were in for an amazing event.
The show begins with a young, nervous Dusty Springfield, superbly played by award winning actress Katherine Kingsley, waiting to appear on Ready Steady Go and panicking at the thought of performing live in front of a TV audience. Kingsley’s performance is outstanding as she shows us Dusty’s insecurity and complex character, her crippling anxiety, her struggle with her sexuality, her battle with drugs and alcohol and her fight for supremacy in the music industry. Kingsley’s vocals and mannerisms are incredibly accurate as she steals the show and brings Dusty Springfield to life. The show flits from Dusty’s life in England, her becoming an international star in America, her refusal to play to segregated audiences in South Africa and back to England when her collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys resulted in her becoming a star once again. The scene set in an American asylum where Dusty has hit rock bottom, self-harming and drug addled, before her rescue by her loyal English friends, is particularly disturbing. When Dusty passes away to the background music of Goin’ Back, I openly wept along with many others in the audience.
There are a few comic moments in the show, notably from Dusty’s loyal team Pat played by Esther Coles, Ruby played by Ella Kenion and Billings played by Rufus Hound. Roberta Kay is convincing as Dusty’s horrible mother giving us an insight into Dusty’s anxiety. Joanna Francis who plays Lois, her lover, performs a spellbinding duet of The Look of Love with Dusty. The music and choreography are superb throughout the show.
The final scene where Dusty came back onto the stage belting out You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me brought the entire audience to its feet. This is truly a magnificent show which richly deserves this standing ovation.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £18 to £39 (booking fees may apply).
Dusty is at The Lowry in Manchester from 24-28 July 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.thelowry.com or call the box office on 0843 208 6000.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ | 0843 208 6000
