I Should Be So Lucky At The Mayflower Theatre Review
Reviewed by Mel S-W
Oh I Should Be So Lucky, Lucky Lucky Lucky to see this show at The Mayflower. We settled down in our seats with great anticipation that we would be thoroughly treated to a great story line and an amazing soundtrack, one of which reminded me of my childhood…. How are these songs over 40 years old! Stock Aitken Waterman music producers have a great back catalogue and the soundtrack used is just perfect! Expect to hear songs from iconic recording artists such as Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Especially for You), Bananarama (Love In The First Degree). I must say, it was very difficult not to sing along!
Talking of singing along .. What was interesting, and whether this was to do with recent disturbances at theatres, there was a pre-recorded message from Pete Waterman pleading that despite how catchy the tunes were, could the audience refrain from singing throughout the show. oh and as it’s a wedding …. No getting too drunk! . I was a bit apprehensive about watching a show with such a great 80s song list as I had expected some sing alongers to disturb the show. The audience complied and held in all their singing and dancing until the finale when everyone was up on their feet!
The show follows Ella (Lucie-Mae Sumner) who is left at the altar by Nathan (Billy Roberts). The wedding is definitely off but Kylie superfan Ella, decides to make use of the honeymoon and takes her friends and family off to the honeymoon destination of Turkey. The show follows the heartache, the will they/won’t they’s, the love, friendships and it’s sure to make you feel great!
The show is full of laughs! Lucie-Mae plays Ella brilliantly, her singing voice is stunning. Kayla Carter’s solo was beautiful and received rapturous applause and Scott Paige was hilarious as Michael, always bringing the laughs and loved how it ended for him. Billy Roberts’ Nathan and Giovanni Spano’s Ash bounced off each other so well – just wait for the nightclub scene! So funny! The entire cast was just fantastic. It felt like we were on holiday with family and friends
And of course, Kylie herself, the voice of the mirror and boy, isn’t she stunning! Some great messages shining through. I also loved that where Kylie is such a big gay icon, that same sex couples were represented on stage. This show has everything for me, cheesy 80’s and 90’s classics, heart warming (and often cheesy) storyline …just a feel good musical that when you leave, you just want to sing, dance and book a holiday to the sun.
It was also great to hear a live orchestra, they were conducted so well that I didn’t realise there was live music until the end. I did feel that some of the voices got lost in some of the big numbers because the orchestra was loud but their microphones could have been set higher.
The staging is simple, it doesn’t need to be extravagant or over the top because the singing and acting is all that’s needed. Set beneath some giant neon hearts, the scene is set with the simple use of props and some great backgrounds. One minute you’re in an airport and then at a luxury resort. I absolutely loved the jet skis with a nod to Kylie and Jason!
The show is directed by the mastermind behind the Nativity franchise, Debbie Isitt and also choreographed by Jason Gilkison who is the creative director for Strictly Come Dancing.
The show definitely shows their talent! The dancing, staging, singing and acting all coming together in this toe tapping hit.
The tickets cost from £24.50 and were a very reasonable price for the tickets. I Should Be So Lucky is at The Mayflower until 27th January and tickets can be purchased here.
Mayflower Theatre 22-26 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1GE
Rating: 4/5 I just wanted to be able to hear the singers more in the big numbers.