The Glenn Miller Story at the Mayflower Theatre Southampton Review
The Glenn Miller Story
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
8-12 September 2015
Reviewed by Emma Booth
Me and a friend went to see the Glenn Miller Story at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The Glenn Miller Story tells the story of the legendary Glenn Miller who back in the 1930s created the most successful swing band of the wartime era and then continues to tell his story right through to when he signed up to the US Army in 1942 shortly before his mysterious disappearance in 1944 when he left on the plane to Paris never to be seen again.
First things first, Tommy Steele who plays Glenn Miller is awesome, at the age of 79 he’s up there dancing and singing with the energy and enthusiasm of someone many years younger you can tell he really felt passionate about telling the story making it appealable to all ages with great wit and humour. He plays alongside Sarah Soetaert who stars as his wife Helen Burger and being I would think in her 30s this makes a bit of a mismatch of characters, I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and in the scenes where there was a kiss or stroke of the back I got the feeling that maybe she felt that she was kissing her granddad as that’s the way it came across, I just felt that the age difference made it a bit weird and uncomfortable.
There were loads of fast paced dance tunes which were great the choreography was stunning and the way the stage lighting was done made a dazzling effect to go with the singing and dancing and gave a great portrayal of the times. The show takes you through the years as he marries, forms an orchestra, forms a second orchestra, joins the army and finally at that last time that he was ever seen when he boarded a plane for Paris and vanished. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t show the disappearance of it a little clearer, if you didn’t know the story of what had happened it would be a little confusing at the end of the chain, is it the end? It certainly made for an abrupt ending and I was left wanting to know a little more about the disappearance. On looking it up I found out that it was likely that the plane was either destroyed by friendly fire or that the fuel intake froze and the plane crashed in the English Channel.
The highlight for me was the amazing 16 piece orchestra they had a huge part to play and were on stage a lot of the time, they really were faultless. The show lasted about two hours and fifteen minutes with a twenty minute interval.
The Mayflower is a beautiful theatre dating back to 1928 and is huge. They have shows to suit all ages and tastes throughout the year and being located an easy reach from the train station and car parks, this makes it an ideal theatre to visit.
I wasn’t overly impressed with this production but thought it’s still well worth seeing for the orchestra and amazing choreography.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £15 to £30 (booking fees may apply).
The Glenn Miller Story is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton until 12 September 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 02380 711811.
Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811
