All or Nothing
the Small Faces Musical
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
12 - 16 September 2017
the Small Faces Musical
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
12 - 16 September 2017
I’ll confess straight away that I’ve seen this musical twice already. At it’s original home at The Vaults Theatre in Waterloo, and then last September when it first visited the Palace Theatre. To say I’m a fan of this show and of The Small Faces would be an understatement.
So what’s the show like third time around?
Very good I’m pleased to say … the show still has some of the original cast from The Vaults with some additional new (small) faces!
To give a brief synopsis, the show tells the tale of how the boys, Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan met, formed the band, made it big, got ripped off, and then how it all fell apart.
The show opens with what was the last Small Faces gig on New Year’s Eve, 1968 at the Alexandra Palace where Steve argues with the band. The action freezes and we are then taken back in time to when the lads are at school and starting out.
Narrating this - from beyond the grave so to speak, is the late, great, Steve Marriott, played by Chris Simmons from The Bill fame. I was lucky enough to meet Steve Marriott years ago at The Dickens pub in Southend, and Chris has certainly done his homework and caught the cheeky, cockney banter and swagger that Steve exuded. Quite uncanny. He carries the story along and links the scenes nicely together.
Interspersed within the story are the songs - the great songs, very well delivered. The lads who play the four main parts do so very well, all four acting well and playing their instruments with aplomb. A big shout out has to go to David Shute who played the lead part of the young Steve Marriott due to Sam Pope being unwell. This was only the second time David had played the role - quite amazing. He was great and, as they say, the boy done well!
It's not a big cast, every member bar the four lads all play various roles, and do so brilliantly. The scene where we are introduced to 'Rene' the dockers delight at the beginning is nicely done and is a taste of how things are going to be portrayed as the show unfolds, quick costume changes and great songs.
Steve's mother Kay is played by Carol Harrison (BBC Eastenders) who wrote and directed it too. She too has some great comedy lines (I wonder if Carol wrote them knowing she'd be delivering them?) and plays the part to great affect.
There are plenty of comedy moments, many scenes tickled me, the one where Don Arden (Russell Floyd) and his henchman (Daniel Beales) are at Robert Stigwood's office and dangle him out the window is a classic.
The show ends with Kay and Steve meeting... she getting the chance to ask Steve why he threw it all away, and the tears flow.
It's a sad thing that the recognition the band finally received came too late for Steve and Ronnie, having died years before. There is no doubt that they were one of the great bands, the songs attest to that.
The intro on the All or Nothing website says 'All or Nothing - The 'Mod' Musical is a trans-generational musical experience celebrating the unique sound of the iconic Mod band, The Small Faces. Including an arsenal of brilliant hits like 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It', 'All Or Nothing', 'Tin Soldier', 'Lazy Sunday', 'Here Comes The Nice' and 'Itchycoo Park'. That doesn't really do it justice - it is one of the best modern musicals out there, a real working class tale of love, friendship, loss, but unfortunately no redemption.
This really is a show not to be missed. Will I be going again? Yeah, of course I will!
So what’s the show like third time around?
Very good I’m pleased to say … the show still has some of the original cast from The Vaults with some additional new (small) faces!
To give a brief synopsis, the show tells the tale of how the boys, Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan met, formed the band, made it big, got ripped off, and then how it all fell apart.
The show opens with what was the last Small Faces gig on New Year’s Eve, 1968 at the Alexandra Palace where Steve argues with the band. The action freezes and we are then taken back in time to when the lads are at school and starting out.
Narrating this - from beyond the grave so to speak, is the late, great, Steve Marriott, played by Chris Simmons from The Bill fame. I was lucky enough to meet Steve Marriott years ago at The Dickens pub in Southend, and Chris has certainly done his homework and caught the cheeky, cockney banter and swagger that Steve exuded. Quite uncanny. He carries the story along and links the scenes nicely together.
Interspersed within the story are the songs - the great songs, very well delivered. The lads who play the four main parts do so very well, all four acting well and playing their instruments with aplomb. A big shout out has to go to David Shute who played the lead part of the young Steve Marriott due to Sam Pope being unwell. This was only the second time David had played the role - quite amazing. He was great and, as they say, the boy done well!
It's not a big cast, every member bar the four lads all play various roles, and do so brilliantly. The scene where we are introduced to 'Rene' the dockers delight at the beginning is nicely done and is a taste of how things are going to be portrayed as the show unfolds, quick costume changes and great songs.
Steve's mother Kay is played by Carol Harrison (BBC Eastenders) who wrote and directed it too. She too has some great comedy lines (I wonder if Carol wrote them knowing she'd be delivering them?) and plays the part to great affect.
There are plenty of comedy moments, many scenes tickled me, the one where Don Arden (Russell Floyd) and his henchman (Daniel Beales) are at Robert Stigwood's office and dangle him out the window is a classic.
The show ends with Kay and Steve meeting... she getting the chance to ask Steve why he threw it all away, and the tears flow.
It's a sad thing that the recognition the band finally received came too late for Steve and Ronnie, having died years before. There is no doubt that they were one of the great bands, the songs attest to that.
The intro on the All or Nothing website says 'All or Nothing - The 'Mod' Musical is a trans-generational musical experience celebrating the unique sound of the iconic Mod band, The Small Faces. Including an arsenal of brilliant hits like 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It', 'All Or Nothing', 'Tin Soldier', 'Lazy Sunday', 'Here Comes The Nice' and 'Itchycoo Park'. That doesn't really do it justice - it is one of the best modern musicals out there, a real working class tale of love, friendship, loss, but unfortunately no redemption.
This really is a show not to be missed. Will I be going again? Yeah, of course I will!
Reviewer: Neil Lands
Ask the Audience
Ronnie, 57, Rochford
"I had no expectations of the show and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was amazed at how many songs I know by the Small Faces. I think it's so sad that they went through all that and didn't come out with anything. It was quite emotional. Also, I wouldn't have known that it was the understudy who went on for Steve Marriott, he was really good. It was brilliant - it was like I was seeing the real Small Faces!"
"I had no expectations of the show and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was amazed at how many songs I know by the Small Faces. I think it's so sad that they went through all that and didn't come out with anything. It was quite emotional. Also, I wouldn't have known that it was the understudy who went on for Steve Marriott, he was really good. It was brilliant - it was like I was seeing the real Small Faces!"
|
Dave, 53, Westcliff
"I thought the acting was really good. It was funny and sad. The music was great. I enjoyed the first act better than the second and the older actors were good. I was mesmerised by the girls' dancing." |
|
Stella, 53, Westcliff
"I thought it was very enjoyable. I liked the historical accuracy of it. It's actually quite a sad story for them - to have created fabulous music and not get anything out of it. It was quite poignant. The acting and singing was brilliant. I would recommend it."
"I thought it was very enjoyable. I liked the historical accuracy of it. It's actually quite a sad story for them - to have created fabulous music and not get anything out of it. It was quite poignant. The acting and singing was brilliant. I would recommend it."