Manilow Musical Smiles in Bristol

Yet another "juke-box musical" with a whimsical plot written around a collection of well known hit songs would appear on the surface to be a nightmare theatrical scenario. But Bill Kenwright's production of Can't Smile Without You currently playing at the Bristol Hippodrome during the early stages of its UK tour turns out to be a very pleasant and hugely enjoyable surprise. The enjoyment is due partly to the fact that the hit songs are by Barry Manilow - a vintage songwriter whose melodies always soar and touch the right emotional buttons - and partly due to some knock-out performances by an immensely talented cast.

Manilow - a megastar singer-songwriter whose career has spanned four decades, selling over 76 million records - is no stranger to the world of musical theatre, having penned the songs for the popular West End and Broadway musical Copacabana as well as the ill-fated but hugely tuneful musical Harmony. But the score for Can't Smile Without You merely draws from the Manilow songbook via a Book by Tim Prager.

The plot concerns Tony LOWIMAN, a boy-band lead singer who, while on a stag weekend in New York, attracts the attention of an American producer and meets and falls for an American girl before returning to the UK to become the victim of a vicious attack, suffering injuries that cause him to lose his memory. Things are further complicated by the fact that his fiance, Lucy, has been having an affair with his best friend, Scott - though Tony's amnesia leaves him blissfully unaware of all this while he continues his music career and grasps at snatches of memories of the girl he met in New York, whose name- rather predictably - was Mandy. (Cue for a song, or what?!) It's all incredibly cheesy but the book is tastefully tongue-in-cheek, allowing Manilow's songs to take over the show.

The ensemble cast, aided by tightly paced direction by Keith Strachan and Bill Kenright, deliver highly energetic performances, giving great support to the show's four leads. Edward Handoll's Scott is slick, witty and charming; Siobhan Dillon exudes with class as Mandy; Francesca Jackson is sassy and vibrant as Lucy and - just as she did as West End Rent Remixed's Joanne - she blows everyone away with her vocals. And Chesney Hawkes is totally endearing as Tony while giving a genuine star vocal performance.

Sceptics may dismiss the show as trite and lightweight. But as a piece of pure theatrical enjoyment it succeeds in engaging and entertaining its audience throughout. And after the final stunning encore ensemble rendition of the Manilow classic, "One Voice", everyone will leave the theatre feeling better than they did when they went in.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.