Stock Aitken Waterman’s I Should Be So Lucky: The Musical is the perfect pick-me-up show to escape to from a cold winter evening. Debbie Isitt’s creation is relentlessly laugh-out-loud funny with a cast that belts out all those hits we loved in the eighties, including the eponymous debut number from Kylie Minogue. Expect iconic stage moments from hits from Rick Astley, Sonia, Jason Donovan, Mel and Kim and many more.
In just over two hours of hilarious activity, with just a brief pause for heartache, we’re whisked from a northern England as jilted bride, Ella (Lucie-May Sumner) and her bridal party head off on her sudden honeymoon for one, to the shores of Turkey (not Torquay). But Ella’s fairy godmother is on hand to remind her that she’s “strong, beautiful and fabulous”. And could Ella find new love and purpose in the resort made for romance?
Classic comedic farce meets feel-good fun as Ella, Mum Shelly (Melissa Jacques), Nan Ivy (Jemma Churchill) sister Britney (Jessica Daley) and friends Mike (Elliot Broadfoot) and Bonnie (Kayla Carter) descend on the super romantic Turkish resort, hosted by a scene-stealing Spencer (Jamie Chapman).
The huge heart-shaped set pieces are illuminated to enhance the mood, with hypnotic backdrop beach images that had me longing to pack a suitcase. A bed, a podium, a huge fairy-tale mirror and a mechanical basket are other key props to tell the story alongside the lyrics and one-liners.
Back in England the remorseful groom Nathan (Billy Roberts) can’t quite believe what he’s just done to the love of his life. But it’s okay, because best man Ash (Giovanni Spano has a plan to bring the two love birds back together. The moment the lads engineer the first face-to-face meeting in an east-meets-west whole-cast dance floor party is an absolute mesmerising joy of performance.
I didn’t know really what to expect from the show, apart from a nostalgic familiarity with the music, and some people will be put off by the format of a show set around pop songs, but they really shouldn’t be. The story is more heart-warming than heart-breaking, with some great lines and a hugely entertaining cast of actors and dancers with spot-on delivery that will carry this show through on a long run to audiences up and down the country.
I Should Be So Lucky: The Musical is a winner of a jukebox musical, perfect for fans of Benidorm, eighties pop and feeling good.
Cast: Lucie-May Sumner, Melissa Jacques, Jemma Churchill, Jessica Daley, Elliot Broadfoot, Kayla Carter, Billy Roberts, Giovanni Spano, Mathew Croke/Kade Ferraiolo, Ralph Bogard, Anna Unwin, Aidan Nightingale, Gary Davis, Sydney Isitt-Ager and Kylie Minogue. Set & Costume Designer: Tom Rogers Choreographer: Jason Gilkison Musical Supervisor, Arranger & Orchestra: George Dyer Director & Writer Debbie Isitt Running Time: 2 hours and 05 minutes Theatre: Theatre Royal Plymouth Performance Dates: 4th – 9th December 2023 Performance: 4th December 2023
