"Our House - The Madness Musical" by Masque Productions.

Mansfield Palace Theatre.

“Our House” is possibly one of the best “jukebox musicals” ever, with the songs featured having been hits and album tracks by Madness. It’s also an excellent piece of theatre. The songs are not just thrown in there, there is a reason for every song being in this musical, and the story, written by Tim Firth is relevant and heart warming.

The story follows Camden lad Joe Casey who, on the night of his 16th birthday, makes a decision that will change his life. Trying to impress Sarah, the girl of his dreams, Joe breaks into a building development overlooking his home on Casey Street. But things take a turn for the worse as the police turn up. Joe’s life splits into two; the Good Joe who stays and gives himself up and Bad Joe who flees and leaves Sarah to run from the police.

The play then follows the two paths that Joe’s life could take after that fateful night; one path means a criminal record, embarrassment and social exclusion, while the other will lose him the girl that he loves. Over a period of seven years and two alternative lives Joe deals with the consequences of that night.

Whilst one Joe fights to keep Sarah, the other is marrying her in a glitzy Vegas wedding and, ultimately, while Good Joe fights to save his house on Casey Street, Bad Joe is determined to demolish it with tragic consequences. All this is watched over by Joe’s deceased father, who pulls the two stories together.

While the story lines and the music is greatly entertaining, there’s a moralistic thread throughout, proving that preaching from the musical pulpit can work.

Jake Shirley takes on the roles of Joe Casey. No, that isn't a spelling mistake or grammar error (see above). This role is so energetic with several quick changes, and Jake is barely offstage throughout. A complete change from the last time I saw Jake on stage, playing the Prince in "Cinderella", there's grit in his Bad Joe, and a playful and loyal softness in Good Joe. The accent throughout is Cockney, and that is carried through into the vocals as well; no mean feat, but it came off convincingly.

Sarah is played by Eleanor Wilkinson who, if you didn't know, was recently crowned Miss Mansfield and District. One of the things that I love about this role is that you can see the progression from schoolgirl to working woman, she matures before your very eyes. Sarah's attire also changes to match which Joe she is talking to, which makes it easier for anyone seeing this musical for the first time to place the character to each Joe. Eleanor gets to sing a little known Madness song called "NW5" which results in being a beautiful ballad, along with Joe's Dad. This is Eleanor's first show with Masque.

Kelly Marsh is Joe's Mum, Kath. Again, a very different role to the last time I saw Kelly on the Mansfield Palace stage as the wicked Stepmother in Masque's "Cinderella. You don't get to hear Kelly's singing voice in this show, but when you do, especially in "One Better Day" in the second act, you can hear that gorgeous softness and warmth in her vocals.

Joe's Dad is played by Matthew Jayes. After what seemed a bit of a shaky start (I put it down to it being opening night and maybe a smidge of nerves), we really got to hear the real quality of Matt's vocals in short bursts throughout, but really gives it welly in the opening of the second act with "Night Boat To Cairo". Matt actually sings on more of the songs than you realise!

Adam Bryant-Scott plays one of Joe's best friends, Emmo. Lewis, the other bestie of Joe's is played by Oliver Ward. As with Emmo, Lewis is a typical teenager with that typical teenager sense of humour, and both draw this out in their performances. There's great chemistry between the dynamic duo of Emmo and Lewis, but this pair also know right from wrong and don't always back Bad Joe's dodgier decisions. This is Adam's first show in six years, and his first role with Masque. Oliver joined Masque last year in the ensemble for "Cinderella".

James Hallam plays Reecey, who is a bit of a bad influence on Joe, and as with Sarah, you do see that age progression; from being in school shirt, untidily untucked, to his black persona outfit. Black for bad and white for good runs through the play with Joe Casey switching between the two, dependent on the direction choice, although Reecey was always a bit of a trouble maker! I can imagine that James has found this role massively mischievous and fantastically fun.

Lily Hewitt plays Billie, one of Sarah's best friends. Angie, another bestie of Sarah's is played by Brooke Spedding. Both bring out the sass and sarcasm in their characters as they always manage to put Emmo, Lewis and Joe in the places. A lovely fun pairing, and both aptly cast.

Mr Pressman, the property tycoon who needed Kath out of her home so that he could raze it to the ground for his own building work, is played by Brian Brooks.

Callum, Sarah's University beau, is played by, and I really hope I got this right, Matt Henson, who quite literally stood in for Brogan Haynes who has broken his feet - yes, not one both feet. Get better soon Brogan. There is a bit of nerd comedy going off with Callum and Matt got it spot on.

And last but by no means least in the named cast are Thomas Slack as Ray, when explaining to Emmo and Lewis how to wash cars was priceless, and Jade Eaton who played Julie from reception. Oh, and then at the opening of act two, Matthew Jayes as the gondola driver - do you call them drivers? I don't know who played the role of the Priest but this character is  also well worth the admission price of the ticket to see.

The ensemble and supporting cast added more meat to the bones of the musical, especially in the music and choreographed pieces, providing a rounder sound and a stage full of dancers.

Brian Brooks, Garry Richardson, Steven Ratcliffe, Thomas Slack, Andrew Steven, Adrian Toon, Andrew Wolden, Paige Allen, Connie Armstrong, Caitlin Brennan, Liz Brennan, Kya Cairns, Ann-Marie Connolly, Maxine Dillon, Adelphie Fleet, Rachel Fletcher, Amy Gunter, Jade Hallam, Lauren Herbert, Sarah Herbert, Francesca Hornsby, Jan Hodgetts, Jane McBride, Paula McCrory, Ruth Morris, Chrissie Smyth, Holly Stevenson, Kay Thomason-Vardy, Justine Wells, Hannah Winterton and Elizabeth Wolden.

Directed by Andrew Wolden. This show is a very technical musical and has a lot going on, so it's not the most "straight down the line" show to direct. It is great fun, fast and the quick changes are exactly that "QUICK". It also does not help the directorial headaches when you think you've got everything near enough down and you have to replace an actor in a role a few weeks before opening night. More of that later! Headaches aside, Andrew, as always, has done a belter of a job. Who needed fireworks outside when everything sizzled in this display of fire crackers.

The set design is by Scenic Projects Ltd. This is a really clever set as flats (sorry technical theatre term) slide into place and reveal a black door and a white door, and I am sure by now I don't have to explain that relevance. A multi level set which plays part of the Pressman Development plan, but also backdrop screen which worked so well with the "Driving In My Car" section of the plot - more than that I won't spoil what is shown behind that particular scene.

Musical Director is Roger Holland, heading up this seven piece band. We didn't need the Return of The Los Palmas 7 when this septuplet is in town. I've always loved the arrangements of these songs as they bring out the lyrics so well when laid bare and orchestrated. That is, for me, what makes the difference between this jukebox musical and many of the others, the arrangements, especially the three and four way arrangements of these classic pop songs.

All the big songs are in this musical, "Wings Of A Dove", "Baggy Trousers", "Night Boat To Cairo", "My Girl", "Embarrassment", "Tomorrow's Just Another Day", "House Of Fun", "It Must Be Love", "Driving In My Car" and so many more Madness classics.

Choreographer is Lynn Roberts. This show is practically all choreography, including of course the many Joes we see racing on and off, often within seconds of each other from either side of the stage and in a different costume. These dance routines for the thirty plus separate music sections, inclusive of reprises, have so much energy attached to the upbeat numbers and the ballads called for a softer style. All executed brilliantly by the cast, and it takes a good cast to execute good choreography.

Lighting design is by Sarah Keers, with the concept conceived by Andrew Wolden. A visual cacophony of colour, making a colourful and bright musical even more so.

Sound design is by Kirk Jackson. I would have liked to have heard the sound to vocals balance a bit more balanced as there were times when the band seemed to swamp the vocals in the upbeat numbers, but apart from that it was punchy, and I like punchy!

Costumes are by Kay Thomason-Vardy, and there are more costumes than you'd expect in this show. From the school wear costumes all the way through to the Las Vegas Showgirl costumes and everything in between, this is another area of the show that really added colour.

"Our House The Madness Musical" is at Mansfield Palace Theatre until Saturday 9 November. It would be sheer madness to miss this magnificent and moralistic monster of a musical.