REVIEW
✭✭☆ ☆ ☆ 2/5
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY:
THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL
✭✭☆ ☆ ☆ 2/5
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY:
THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL
The Stock Aitken Waterman label was at its height during the 80s and 90s and introduced us to Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Rick Astley and Mel & Kim, to name but a few. At the time, they consistently produced a conveyer belt of pop music sensations and were considered one of the most successful songwriting and production partnerships of all time, scoring more than 100 UK top-40 hits and selling over 150 million records.
Despite their incredible success, the label has often been synonymous with cheesy pop and here’s where the stars have aligned in the concept of I Should Be So Lucky, The Musical.
With all the hype of this show and the fact that pop princess, Kylie Minogue, has even lent her talents to it too, albeit as a pre-record as an image in a ‘mirror on the wall’ type scenario, the anticipation of seeing this brand new juke box musical was naturally high.
However, every single thing about this show is dolloped in cheese in its most gooey and stinky form. The storyline is as cliched as they come with a script that just makes you want to cringe rather than crack up. And that’s where the big shocker for me comes in; it’s been written and directed by Debbie Issitt. Debbie is a brilliant writer and perhaps best known for creating Nativity!, the film, and musical, which is one of my all time favourites with a script written with heart and compassion that deals with real and fully investable characters. Sadly, I Should Be So Lucky seems to have been written solely for the tenuous segues into every song; and with a book that could be a contender for a puerile 80s sitcom rather than a musical production with lines such as “I’d love to take a ride……..on your yacht.” Oo err matron! There was even a collective audible groan from the audience at one point when the dialogue led into Matthew Croke as Nadeem singing Never Gonna Give You Up as he attempts to win Ella's affections.
The storyline is told around the bride, Ella played by Lucie-Mae Sumner, being dramatically stood up at the alter by fiancé, Nathan (Billy Roberts) and then deciding to go on the honeymoon with the bridal party, ironically to Turkey, where they have many quirky interactions with hotel staff and locals alike in an attempt to cheer up the jilted bride.
Meanwhile at home the groom and best man, Ash (Giovanni Spanò) decide to go to Turkey to win back the bride as the whole jilting situation was just a huge misunderstanding involving a grandad with dementia, who justifies his wrongful advice with the punchline “how should I know, I’ve got f***ing dementia!” Let’s hope no one from the Alzheimer’s Society was in for that one. Thereon in lies a series of comic misunderstandings and random love matches.
You can’t fault the cast for their enthusiasm and there are some decent performances with some laugh out loud moments. Scott Paige almost saves the show with his performance of gay bestie, Michael, in Act 2 where he finds love with the Turkish masseuse and subsequently the Toy Boy number goes down a storm. I also enjoyed Jamie Chapman as the ‘camp as Christmas’ Hotel Manager, Spencer. Over-actor of the piece has to go to Giovanni Spanò whose character was like a cross between Bobby Davro and Johnny Bravo and who was perhaps given a little too much of a free rein during the workshop process.
The fabulous heart themed set, scenery and costumes in this show are redeeming factors, and the band sound fabulous, which brings the show's production values up a scale but sadly this production, for me, was a huge let down. If you can hang around to the end bows, where Kylie reads out a love poem distracting you from the actual bows, there’s the opportunity to get up and boogie and sing along for a bit, which seemed to go down well with the audience.
If you want to Step Back in Time and have a musical reminisce then this will probably tick the boxes with songs including Too Many Broken Hearts, Together Forever, I Heard a Rumour, Respectable, Better the Devil You Know and of course, I Should Be So Lucky. Sadly the only box this ticked for me is the one marked ‘disappointing’.
Review: Kim Tobin
Despite their incredible success, the label has often been synonymous with cheesy pop and here’s where the stars have aligned in the concept of I Should Be So Lucky, The Musical.
With all the hype of this show and the fact that pop princess, Kylie Minogue, has even lent her talents to it too, albeit as a pre-record as an image in a ‘mirror on the wall’ type scenario, the anticipation of seeing this brand new juke box musical was naturally high.
However, every single thing about this show is dolloped in cheese in its most gooey and stinky form. The storyline is as cliched as they come with a script that just makes you want to cringe rather than crack up. And that’s where the big shocker for me comes in; it’s been written and directed by Debbie Issitt. Debbie is a brilliant writer and perhaps best known for creating Nativity!, the film, and musical, which is one of my all time favourites with a script written with heart and compassion that deals with real and fully investable characters. Sadly, I Should Be So Lucky seems to have been written solely for the tenuous segues into every song; and with a book that could be a contender for a puerile 80s sitcom rather than a musical production with lines such as “I’d love to take a ride……..on your yacht.” Oo err matron! There was even a collective audible groan from the audience at one point when the dialogue led into Matthew Croke as Nadeem singing Never Gonna Give You Up as he attempts to win Ella's affections.
The storyline is told around the bride, Ella played by Lucie-Mae Sumner, being dramatically stood up at the alter by fiancé, Nathan (Billy Roberts) and then deciding to go on the honeymoon with the bridal party, ironically to Turkey, where they have many quirky interactions with hotel staff and locals alike in an attempt to cheer up the jilted bride.
Meanwhile at home the groom and best man, Ash (Giovanni Spanò) decide to go to Turkey to win back the bride as the whole jilting situation was just a huge misunderstanding involving a grandad with dementia, who justifies his wrongful advice with the punchline “how should I know, I’ve got f***ing dementia!” Let’s hope no one from the Alzheimer’s Society was in for that one. Thereon in lies a series of comic misunderstandings and random love matches.
You can’t fault the cast for their enthusiasm and there are some decent performances with some laugh out loud moments. Scott Paige almost saves the show with his performance of gay bestie, Michael, in Act 2 where he finds love with the Turkish masseuse and subsequently the Toy Boy number goes down a storm. I also enjoyed Jamie Chapman as the ‘camp as Christmas’ Hotel Manager, Spencer. Over-actor of the piece has to go to Giovanni Spanò whose character was like a cross between Bobby Davro and Johnny Bravo and who was perhaps given a little too much of a free rein during the workshop process.
The fabulous heart themed set, scenery and costumes in this show are redeeming factors, and the band sound fabulous, which brings the show's production values up a scale but sadly this production, for me, was a huge let down. If you can hang around to the end bows, where Kylie reads out a love poem distracting you from the actual bows, there’s the opportunity to get up and boogie and sing along for a bit, which seemed to go down well with the audience.
If you want to Step Back in Time and have a musical reminisce then this will probably tick the boxes with songs including Too Many Broken Hearts, Together Forever, I Heard a Rumour, Respectable, Better the Devil You Know and of course, I Should Be So Lucky. Sadly the only box this ticked for me is the one marked ‘disappointing’.
Review: Kim Tobin
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, show creator Debbie Isitt and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are delighted to announce full casting for I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL. The team also announce today that Kylie Minogue will digitally appear throughout the show as a specially created character unique to the musical. The World Premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 2 November 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. www.soluckymusical.com, @SoLuckyMusical
Stock Aitken Waterman said today "Stock Aitken Waterman are thrilled to be part of this wonderful new adventure. To see our songs take on a new life in the world of musical theatre and working on a collaboration with Debbie Isitt and her talented team is so exciting and very special."
Kylie Minogue said today “I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Stock Aitken Waterman in presenting the new musical, 'I Should Be So Lucky'! It is the music that inspired a generation (plus my first five albums!) so to have all the SAW hits in this original story will make for a compelling, funny and heartfelt show. Let’s enjoy the magic all over again!”
Bringing together the West End’s finest talent, the full cast of the musical includes Kayla Carter (The Color Purple, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Bonnie, Jamie Chapman (Nativity! The Musical, The Mousetrap) as Spencer, Jemma Churchill (Guys and Dolls, Nativity! THe Musical) as Ivy, Matthew Croke (Wicked, Aladdin) as Nadeem, Jessica Daley (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) as Britney, Gary Davis (Annie, Oklahoma!) as Big Mike, Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mamma Mia!) as Shelley, Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Made in Dagenham) as Michael, Billy Roberts (Rock of Ages, Titanic The Musical) as Nathan, Giovanni Spanò (Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Out of Hell) as Ash, Lucie-Mae Sumner (Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls) as Ella and Anna Unwin (Aspects of Love) as Olivia. The cast is completed by Tegan Bannister, Ralph Bogard, Elliot Broadfoot, Emma Crossley, Kade Ferraiolo, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Joe Kelly, Aidan Nightingale, James Willoughby Moore, Lauren Woolf and Louie Wood.
THE WEDDING’S OFF, BUT THE HONEYMOON IS ON! Head from the aisle to the isles in the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical featuring the soundtrack of a generation with music from pop royalty including Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Too Many Broken Hearts) and Bananarama (Love In The First Degree). I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL features no less than 10 Number 1 singles and over 25 songs from the Hit Factory whose music defined an era. Ella and Nathan, a young couple, hopelessly in love and about to take the biggest step of their lives – marriage. Until it doesn’t go quite to plan. Will they be together forever, or will he make her cry and say goodbye?
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (the hit NATIVITY! franchise), choreographed by Jason Gilkison (Creative Director of Strictly Come Dancing and Eurovision 2023), with orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Ben Harrison, casting by Anne Vosser and production management by Simon Marlow. It is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions.
Stock Aitken Waterman said today "Stock Aitken Waterman are thrilled to be part of this wonderful new adventure. To see our songs take on a new life in the world of musical theatre and working on a collaboration with Debbie Isitt and her talented team is so exciting and very special."
Kylie Minogue said today “I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Stock Aitken Waterman in presenting the new musical, 'I Should Be So Lucky'! It is the music that inspired a generation (plus my first five albums!) so to have all the SAW hits in this original story will make for a compelling, funny and heartfelt show. Let’s enjoy the magic all over again!”
Bringing together the West End’s finest talent, the full cast of the musical includes Kayla Carter (The Color Purple, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Bonnie, Jamie Chapman (Nativity! The Musical, The Mousetrap) as Spencer, Jemma Churchill (Guys and Dolls, Nativity! THe Musical) as Ivy, Matthew Croke (Wicked, Aladdin) as Nadeem, Jessica Daley (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) as Britney, Gary Davis (Annie, Oklahoma!) as Big Mike, Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mamma Mia!) as Shelley, Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Made in Dagenham) as Michael, Billy Roberts (Rock of Ages, Titanic The Musical) as Nathan, Giovanni Spanò (Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Out of Hell) as Ash, Lucie-Mae Sumner (Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls) as Ella and Anna Unwin (Aspects of Love) as Olivia. The cast is completed by Tegan Bannister, Ralph Bogard, Elliot Broadfoot, Emma Crossley, Kade Ferraiolo, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Joe Kelly, Aidan Nightingale, James Willoughby Moore, Lauren Woolf and Louie Wood.
THE WEDDING’S OFF, BUT THE HONEYMOON IS ON! Head from the aisle to the isles in the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical featuring the soundtrack of a generation with music from pop royalty including Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Too Many Broken Hearts) and Bananarama (Love In The First Degree). I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL features no less than 10 Number 1 singles and over 25 songs from the Hit Factory whose music defined an era. Ella and Nathan, a young couple, hopelessly in love and about to take the biggest step of their lives – marriage. Until it doesn’t go quite to plan. Will they be together forever, or will he make her cry and say goodbye?
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (the hit NATIVITY! franchise), choreographed by Jason Gilkison (Creative Director of Strictly Come Dancing and Eurovision 2023), with orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Ben Harrison, casting by Anne Vosser and production management by Simon Marlow. It is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions.
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL
UK TOUR
www.soluckymusical.com
@SoLuckyMusical
THURSDAY 2 – SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023
MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester
MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2023
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
www.wmc.org.uk
MONDAY 4 – SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2023
PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyal.com
TUESDAY 12 – SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 2023
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE
www.leedsheritagetheatres.com
MONDAY 8 – SATURDAY 13 JANUARY 2024
ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD
www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 20 JANUARY 2024
SHEFFIELD LYCEUM
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
TUESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 27 JANUARY 2024
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
www.mayflower.org.uk
MONDAY 29 JANUARY – SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2024
NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre
MONDAY 5 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
NEW OXFORD THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford
MONDAY 12 – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2024
KING’S THEATRE, GLASGOW
www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre-glasgow
MONDAY 19 – SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024
HULL NEW THEATRE
www.hulltheatres.co.uk
TUESDAY 5 – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre
MONDAY 11 – SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024
CLIFFS PAVILLION, SOUTHEND
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
MONDAY 18 – SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2024
NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre
MONDAY 25 – SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2024
CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY
www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
MONDAY 1 – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024
THE ALEXANDRA, BIRMINGHAM
www.atgtickets.com/venues/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham
TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
MONDAY 15 – SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2024
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire
MONDAY 22 – SATURDAY 27 APRIL 2024
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire
TUESDAY 30 APRIL – SATURDAY 4 MAY 2024
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/his-majestys-theatre/