HERE & NOW | KING’S THEATRE, GLASGOW | UK TOUR
★★★
“Powerhouse performances save show after shaky start….”
Camp capers, broken hearts and a happy ever after… What more would you expect from a jukebox musical built around the hits of chart-toppers Faye, Claire, Lisa, Lee and H, aka Steps. Songs that still fill dance floors today have been woven together to create Here & Now, a fun-filled, giddy and often bonkers celebration of individuality, friendship and self-belief.
Welcome to Better Best Bargains, a coastal supermarket where the staff have more personal problems than you’d find in a dozen agony aunt’s inboxes. At the heart of the action is Caz whose husband has decided to move on just as their application to adopt has been greenlit. Then there’s Neeta who is in love with Ben but doesn’t know how to tell him, Lesley and Val who are growing apart together, and Robbie who can’t commit to a relationship but is desperate to find love. Will they ever take a chance on a happy ending?
Throw into the mix self-centred store owner Patricia (Finty Williams pushing the bounds of believability with gleeful abandon), charming stranger Max, drag queen Jen (River Medway is a revelation in the role), and a battle to save their jobs as developers threaten to Better Best Bargains into condominiums and you have the recipe for an evening of sassy, feel-good nonsense even if by the megamix singalong at the end, much of Shaun Kitchener’s book is better best forgotten – but then it’s little more than a vehicle to link the songs (most of which is soon becomes clear are about heartache). Littered with snappy one-liners it brings in the laughs but remains a functional script that serves its purpose, albeit occasionally bordering on, if not tastelessness, then insensitivity.
On Tom Rogers’ candy pink, powder blue set design, dazzlingly lit by Howard Hudson, the 22-strong cast deliver high energy, all singing, all dancing performances, backed by a six piece band under the baton of musical director Georgia Rawlins. Choreographed with nostalgic familiarity by Matt Cole, it should all work seamlessly, but strangely takes until the second act for all the elements to fully gel, Rachel Kavanaugh’s direction seeming lost in the melee.
As voices go, Jacqui Dubois as Val impresses from the off and is a highlight of the troubled first act – sound levels leave the most of the cast fighting the overpowering levels of the band, making for some discordant harmonies and distortion. Hits such as After The Love Has Gone, Last Thing on My Mind, Only A Heartbeat Away, keep the fans in the audience happy nonetheless and in the supermarket where ‘every night is a Friday night’ you never have too long to wait for another chart topping hit – the Half Price Hoedown that accompanies 5,6,7,8… is a belter.
Act Two opens with the Bee Gee’s Tragedy, a big song and a popular cover for Steps, turns the show around – it’s like watching a different production and from there on the cast soar.
As the story powers to its conclusion so Steps’ best loved hits are lined up. Deeper Shade of Blue is followed by Something In Your Eyes, before Rebecca Lock, as Caz, comes into her own, delivering an emotional, stripped by rendition of One For Sorrow, that showcases her range to full effect.
A shout out must also go to understudy Dean Rickards in his professional debut, who quickly warms into the role of Robbie and is an instant hit with the audience.
With Kavanaugh’s direction finally hitting its mark, choreographer Cole throws everything he has at another fan favourite, Better The Devil You Know, ramping up the energy further to deliver a routine that shamelessly ‘jumps the shark’ without the tiniest hint of irony. But it’s one-time Drag Race UK contender Medway who steals the show as Jem, with an explosive performance of Diana Ross’ Chain Reaction – another cover for Steps – that brings the house down and proves the spectacular high point of the evening, winning extended roars of approval.
With cast and audience by then in full on party mode, it heralds a finale that has the entire house on its feet, clapping and singing along. Altogether now: ‘Let’s take a chance on a happy ending…’.
Full tour dates and tickets here.
