Find out what we made of the next step in the musical’s development….
Featuring a book by Eric Holmes and music & lyrics by Chilina Kennedy, Wild About You is a musical that brings to mind many different films and stories as you watch it progressing. This includes The Vow (based on the Nicholas Sparks book) and It’s A wonderful Life (from a ever so slightly different vantage point).
The story follows that of Olivia who wakes up in a hospital bed with an extremely limited memory and sees her with the help of Nurse Shae attempts to piece together (and find out who her emergency contact is) her life as it has been up until this point. the first act is focused on her past loves and how they influenced her, while the second act is focused more on her attempts to reconnect with her son and making piece with her past.
On the surface, as a story it should work and be filled with plenty of emotional moments to tug at the audience’s heartstrings – but there is a lack of depth to the characters in Eric Holmes’ book that makes you wonder why we should care about anyone but Billy in this situation (who is made to come into the story that should involve him heavily too late). It is frustrating because with a bit more background to the characters and fleshing out the story as a whole would ensure a better balanced plot. You just aren’t made to feel to care enough about any of the characters.
This being said, this is a show that is about regrets and it does have a bittersweet quality about it that is pleasing when combined with the music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy which have a raw and soulful quality about them – with highlights including ‘I’m Wild About You’ and ‘Take Us Down’. The songs might take a couple of listens to really make an impact but there is something there.
There is a steadiness to Nick Winston’s production that ensures that subject matter is handled sensitively, but because of some of the flaws in the book can feel overlong in places. It would be easy for a concert production of this scope to be overwhelmed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – but thanks to the way in which Justin Williams (set design) and Rory Beaton (lighting design) uses a variety of techniques it still retains a feeling of intimacy about it.
The cast assembled for these concert performances is strong and all do well to bring their characters to life. Rachel Tucker beautifully and sensitively brings to life Olivia’s inner conflict and flaws, complete with heart wrenching vocals to numbers such as ‘Floating and Falling’. Tori Allen-Martin offers a powerful performance as Jessica (Olivia’s on-off partner), getting the balance between feistiness and vulnerability spot on that makes the audience yearn for Olivia to come to her senses – her rendition of ‘I’m Wild About You’ is a real highlight.
Elsewhere, Todrick Hall as both Nurse Shae and Robin (in the second act where it does become a little bit like Beetlejuice as Olivia seeks advice) delivers a wonderful performance that lifts the mood on numerous occasions to give many scenes a real spark to them. It just feels as though Oliver Tompsett, Jamie Muscato and Eric McCormack’s character could have been incorporated more into the story to make it feel more fully rounded as to why Olivia acts the way she does.
It should be remembered that this is a musical that is being developed and while there is certainly work to be done, there is certainly something about it that grabs the attention. Let’s see what happens with it next…
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐