Here & Now – The Steps Musical At Milton Keynes Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Mel Randle

Last night we went to Milton Keynes Theatre to see the new musical ‘Here and Now’ currently on its first UK tour. Based on the music of 90’s pop band Steps, it follows the same premise as Mamma Mia in that it uses Steps greatest hits to tell a completely unrelated story. I went with no expectations – I was never a Steps fan but enjoy dancing to their music at a wedding, and I took my 10 year old daughter who was ignorant to the existence of Steps until last night. I shall give you our two very different verdicts now…. My daughter claimed it is now her favourite musical, I on the other hand had a lovely evening but left thinking now I’ve seen it there is no reason I would watch it again.

This is one of those reviews that I really hate writing because I don’t know why I loved the show and I don’t know why I didn’t like the show. It was a mishmash of elements that created a good fun evening but also disappointed me that it wasn’t better. Perhaps they have big shoes to follow with Mamma Mia being so successful, but I don’t even think it was that. I think they were trying to do too much and what was really missing at the end of the day was good strong vocals producing amazing toe tapping tunes. This was then more disappointing because this is exactly what they delivered for the ‘Steps Megamix’ finale so they did have it in them all along!

The story is based around the lives of the workers at Better Best Bargains Supermarket and was very easy to follow although it was very wishy-washy and seemed to centre on too many things. One minute they are planning their ‘Summer Of Love’ and the next minute they are fighting to save their supermarket that is being closed and turned into flats. One scene sees two workers finally admit they fancy each other whilst putting the bins out and then there is a change in tempo whilst the sadness of baby loss is addressed. It was like a cross between Dinnerladies, Benidorm and Blood Brothers and it didn’t really know which one it wanted to be!

The cast were full of enthusiasm in their delivery and fitted the roles they were playing perfectly but as I said before, their voices let them down. For me personally, if I am watching a musical, the singing is paramount and I don’t think any of them (with the exception of Lara Denning in the main role) were particularly strong singers, much better suited to TV sitcom rather than this. There were a couple of familiar faces in the cast – Sally Ann Matthews who played Jenny in Coronation Street and River Medway who was a competitor in Ru Paul’s Drag Race to name two.

The standout element for me and my daughter was the scenery and costume. This is possibly one of the best sets I have seen in a long time and was focused on a colour scheme of pink and blue which was consistent throughout the costume and lighting. This show is worth seeing just for the amazing set!

I think the fact that my 10 year old has promoted this musical to her ‘favourite’ speaks volumes about the demographic they have hit. She was dazzled by the stunning set and the slapstick comedy as well as the catchy tunes – let’s not forget back in the day Steps appealed to a younger audience. But did it contain the ingredients of an amazing musical – not for me I’m afraid. Go and have a great night out with the girls or the kids, but enjoy it for what it is, a bit of fun. It won’t be winning any awards from me I’m afraid.

Rating: 3.5/5

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/here-and-now-the-steps-musical/milton-keynes-theatre