After the success of West Side Story in 2017 and Grease in 2016, the New Alexandra’s annual Stage Experience is back on top form with their production of Boogie Nights.
The show is a British musical, based on the music of the 1970s. Making its debut in Bromley in 1997, it debuted in the West End, at the Savoy Theatre, the following year. It follows the story of Roddy, who dreams of being a rock star. Through affairs, babies and fortunate opportunity, we find out whether he gets what he wants.
Coupled with a soundtrack to die for, including tracks like Boogie Wonderland, Disco Inferno and I Will Survive, this show is like a perfect symphony of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and Saturday Night Fever! However one thing it's sure to do is stick a huge grin across your face - and that's the important part.
Stage Experience has been a staple of the calendar at The Alex for as long as I can remember and, unbelievably, seems to better itself every year - with 2018 being no exception. The scheme sees a group of 9-24 year old's commit two weeks of their summer holiday to putting on a fully staged musical, complete with a professional orchestra, set, lighting, sound and costumes - and at times you have to do a quick double take to remember that some of the cast have never walked across a professional stage in their lives.
What I always find amazing is the calibre of musical that this project takes on. From 42nd Street to Grease and West Side Story, there's a certain amount of risk involved - but once again, the team and the cast have absolutely smashed it.
Liam Huband brought a sense of humour to proceedings as Roddy's middle aged Irish father, who had more than a passing infatuation with Elvis! Maintaining a sense of fun without developing into a caricature, Huband showed a clear ability to pull of comic roles with ease. Thomas Parkinson and Melissa Huband were a fantastic 'other couple' and, again, brought a comedy slant to the production which they carried off brilliantly.
However - and I hate having stand out performers because everyone on stage deserves a huge amount of praise for a job amazingly well done - but Elliot Gooch and Isabella Kibble were outstanding as Roddy and Debs respectively. Both have experience with the scheme and have stepped up to carry the weight of the show on their shoulders - and have done so in an exemplary manner.
Gooch is an outstanding performer, with a charisma and vocal range way beyond his years. Similarly, Kibble is clear proof, should it be needed, that we have some insanely talented young people in theatre land at the moment. Playing the role of Debs with a maturity and spark that lit up the room, the chemistry between the duo was plain to see and was worthy of any West End stage.
Whilst Boogie Nights, along with all of the preceding productions - and I'm sure all future ones - are entertainment beyond belief, they serve as so much more than that for an audience. They act as a reminder that we have some ridiculously talented people taking on the mantle of musical theatre and Stage Experience is the cream of the crop on stage each night.
If you're an actual theatre loving human, I defy you to sit in that auditorium and NOT sing your head voice to death. This production is infectious, endearing and glitzy as you like - it's ABSOLUTELY not one to miss!
Boogie Nights runs at the New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 25th August. For more information and tickets, head to atgtickets.com/birmingham.
