The Osmonds – A New Musical At The Swan, High Wycombe Review

Reviewed by I.Addison

‘‘The Osmonds” is a musical that is currently on tour at The Swan, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire until Saturday 15th October. The Swan in Wycombe is a council run theatre 1000 seater venue within walking distance from High Wycombe train station. Lines running via Chiltern Trains line from Wembley and Marylebone to south and Aylesbury & Oxford from north. There is a car park attached to the theatre including parking for Blue Badge holders. There are pubs and restaurants further up the road.  The theatre entrance is via a double set of doors at the side of the venue.. The Osmonds is a musical on tour at Wycombe for five days. It will then continue on to some other cities until the end of the year. https://theosmondsmusical.co.uk/tour-dates/

I arrived in plenty of time. The seats I was given were row L in the Circle. The view was great and very central.

The shows plot is about a musical family from Utah which included five group brothers and a sister. They were aptly called ‘The Osmonds’ and became 100 million records sellers winning Gold & Platinum awards, The play which is via brother Jay Osmond narrating in adult and child versions, reveals the real family behind all the hits. The Osmonds parents George and Olive Osmond and their nine children, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy. The adult brothers cast members were great but unusually there was also a children cast member representing the boys during their youth.

I was ready to listen and watch and learn as having not been a big Osmonds fan and knew little about them. Although I must confess to one year going to see ‘The Donny and Marie’ show at The Flamingo Las Vegas. Let’s see how Wycombe lights matched up!

Overall, this was a toe tapping and feel good enjoyable play for sure. The stage set, the lights and the costumes were really colourful and the overall optics of the show were really great.

The storyline is narracted by Jay Osmond. Jay’s adult role was played by Alex Lodge and the child role played by Miles Redwood. Both actors gave a really good performance.

I did not know much about The Osmonds as a family – this play explains the history and commitment all of the family have to faith, family and entertainment not to mention, their reputation. I had no idea that all 5 brothers played instruments, danced and sung. All of them driven with strong family values which are displayed through the parents. This is the kind of show that really is worth seeing even if you don’t know The Osmonds or their music, you leave the theatre with a huge smile on your face which even my husband did after agreeing reluctantly to go with me after his 6am-6pm 12 hour shift, and if it had him singing ‘let the reason be love’ ‘paper roses’ ‘wild horses’ and then leaving the theatre to say he was now following The Osmonds on Spotify saying ‘I had forgotten how good they were’’ then I am sure it will you too!

Rating: 4/5

Running time: 2 hours and 42 minutes – Interval 20 mins

Ticket prices: £40 for premium tickets – Main price of tkts is between £28-£14.40
Tickets can be booked by visiting: Box office open daily or via web site
https://wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/tickets-the-osmonds-wycombe-2022