"Popstars - The 90's Musical" by Act One
Iveshead Theatre, Shepshed.
It's set in a school in the 1990's where Mark is head over heels in love with his girlfriend, Queen Bee, Shannon Van de Witt.
When Shannon learns that pop-band impresario Simon Austin is the surprise judge at the State Talent Show she dumps him for her chance at showbiz stardom.
There’s just one small problem... the boys can’t dance. Mark enlists the help of the ultra-talented, new girl, Ella to help with their boy band make over and sparks soon fly.
Can Mark get the girl, get the Grand Prize and get even with the scheming Shannon closing in?
This is a completely new musical to me; written by Neil Gooding and Nicholas Christo, and has some of the best hits from the 1990's. "Movin' On Up", "I'm Too Sexy", "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)", "Always", "Who Let the Dogs Out", "Love Is All Around", "Stop", "Wannabe", "Believe", "Let's Get Loud", "Baby One More Time", "Genie In A Bottle", "Achy Breaky Heart" and so many more.
Noah Baguley (Mark) is someone to look out for in the future as I can see in a couple of years time, he's going to have a really good voice for the theatre. He already has a good voice and with more shows and nurture that voice is going to get him recognised. He can really act also - he has a lovely comedic feel for the stage, and can bust some moves. All this at these tender years makes me excited for what the stage may hold for him a few years down the line.
Jonah Robinson (Patrick) has also been blessed with a voice that, once matures, will have no issues getting roles in musicals. All four of the leading males can dance well, and would be believable as a boy band because the chemistry is there. Jonah also looks quite different when appearing in the final, without his hat and with long trousers, completing that boy band image. The chemistry with his stage sister is also very believable!
Ethan Smith (Vinnie) is the "Come Back" kid, and I loved his characterisation of this alter ego by singing "Love Is All Around" as he demonstrated how he wooed his exes to come back to him. What made it all the more comical was that he serenaded Shane with this song! Ethan also has a lovely feel for comedy, and I can see leading man material in him, especially when he gets older and the romantic lead is up for grabs, as he seemed very popular with the ladies in the audience.
Zach Adelakun (Shane) continued the character's running joke very well in this musical. From the very start the image was of a shy, retiring character as he whispered everything, but then came Act Two and we discovered something more about Shane. In his scene with Vinnie, he looked as if he was going to break character, but he didn't, which gave his scenes in the second act even more of a surprise. I'll say no more but he certainly made everyone on this side of the stage sit up and take notice!
Freya Lakin (Ella), in her character saved the day all round. Freya has a lovely voice which you can tell she has lovely control over. From the confident "Man I Feel Like A Woman" to the wispy "You Gotta Be" and the trio version of "Iris", you were drawn by her tone and control.
Emily Clarke (Shannon) looked as if she loved being the antagonist of this musical, especially with that twang shallow Shannon has in her voice. A wonderful character played wonderfully well by a future character actor in the making. Emily brought the attitude on opening night, for sure!
Eve Hancock (Charlie), Alice Powell (Steffi), Scarlett Robinson (Tina) and Caitlin Fitzpatrick (Carrie) were completely bossed around by Shannon, and as The Candy Girls, their voices were sweet as candy on songs like "Genie In A Bottle", "Stop", "Waterfalls" and "Wannabe".
Gracie Collins (Chef Joey) broke out the big 90's craze of line dancing with a stomping version of "Achy Breaky Heart" which had everyone's toes tapping.
Toby Ashurst (Host/DJ Prince) looked pretty cool in the shiniest jacket of the night, and I loved the fast forward part of his role. Very comical.
Amy Tarrant (Simon Austin) played the guest judge for the New Generation Talent Competition and even got to bust a few moves in "U Can't Touch This". Simon's P.A, was played by Charlotte Davis.
Other supporting actors were Jessie Davis (Coach), Eleanor Corbett (Principal) and Josie Ince (Amber Shue).
As you can imagine, the ensemble was pretty big as well. From band members and audition girls to bar customers and even a gospel choir, the stage was full of talent.
And behind the scenes were a whole army of people who put this musical on the stage, making opening night the success it was.
Adrian Dobson (Conductor/Co-Producer/Musical Director), Wendy Spencer (Co-Producer/Choreographer), Danni Starkey & Amy North (Directors), Helen Starkey (Choreographer), Shelly White & Danni Starkey (Assistant Choreographers), James Cladingboel (Lighting), James White (Sound)and Kevin Spencer (Stage Manager) among the Production Team.
It's been a few years since I last paid a visit to Iveshead but in those years the quality of the shows, as well as the quality of the young actors has not waned. Here is a fun musical that I've never seen anywhere performed before. The characters are age appropriate for the actors which straight away makes playing the roles easier for the cast and creates believability for what you see on stage. And that's all before you get to the soundtrack, which of course was around long before any of the cast were born. Doesn't that make you feel old?
"Popstars - The 90's Musical" is at Iveshead Theatre in Shepshed until Saturday 13 May.
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