Review by Daz Gale
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There has been a huge increase in the number of one night only musical theatre concerts of late. Giving the opportunity to see rarely seen or revived musicals in a grander setting than they would otherwise play, usually backed with an orchestra and chorus creates a unique and special way to see the show – even if like some one night stands, they tease you and leave you longing for more. The latest show to experience this adaptation is Side Show, but would this be one show I wish would never leave or would it be more of a freak show?
Side Show is a musical that has been seldom seen since it first debuted. Premiering on Broadway in 1997 and revived there in 2014, both runs were incredibly short-lived despite positive responses and multiple Tony award nominations. Its only production in London so far was a run at Southwark Playhouse in 2016 with this concert making its first outing in eight years. It is based on the lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton who rose to fame in the 1930s, bursting from their time in a sideshow to become famous stage performers in their own right. Side Show tells the story of their rise to fame, their relationships with others who were important in their highs and lows and, most importantly, their relationship with each other.
In any concert production, the book may take more of a back seat to amplify the music, but nothing is lost in the storytelling here. Bill Russell’s book takes us on a journey with a sensitive and emotive approach to the story. While the term “concert” can be used incredibly loosely when it comes to musical theatre with some of them employing vast amounts of staging (Death Note, I’m looking at you), this production is a far more traditional approach with Emma Butler’s direction putting the music front and centre while still finding ways to tell the story despite no set, props and minimal choreography. The result really puts a focus on the music, and that is where this show truly shines.
Henry Krieger’s music really is glorious and is used to its full potential here, beautifully realised with Adam Hoskins’ phenomenal musical direction bringing these numbers to life. From the moment the chorus burst onto the stage with the opening number ‘Come Look At The Freaks’, the bar is set incredibly high, never faltering and creating a rousing response to the music while really hammering home the gravitas and impact of the lyrics, leaving a lasting connection.
The big draw in this concert of Side Show is the cast that brings the songs to life. Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman, or “Tuckman” as they are affectionately known, proved their remarkable chemistry together when they starred together as The Witches Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked. Now, 12 years later, musical theatre fans have the chance to relive this star double act as they reunite to take on the roles of Violet and Daisy respectively. With Louise having played Daisy in the last London production in 2016 and Rachel Tucker proving time and time again what a force of nature she is, this really is the dream pairing for the Hilton twins, with the sense that nobody else would be able to play these roles better than these two legends in their own right.
If hopes were high with the Tuckman casting and expectations at an unrealistic level, it would be near on impossible for them to meet these… only, they did. Not only that, they absolutely smashed it. Tapping in to the emotive nature of their characters, their own history together added a sense of believability to the pure love the sisters felt for each other, bringing more nuance and meaning to the numbers. Act one closer ‘Who Will Love Me As I Am’ proved spine-tinglingly good with the ladies’ vocals and harmonies stunning to witness, but the biggest number of the night was reserved for the show’s standout number ‘I Will Never Leave You’, performed so flawlessly, it really was heavenly. The resulting mid-show standing ovation for this note-perfect performance was incredibly deserved.
For this concert of Side Show, the entire casting was nothing short of spectacular. Bradley Jaden once again demonstrated his striking talents as Terry Connor with a storming performance of ‘Private Conversation’ showcasing some truly out of this world vocals. Tosh Wanogho-Maud oozed charisma as Buddy Foster in a heartfelt portrayal, culminating with the showstopping ‘One Plus One Equals Three’. Adam Filipe got a brief but memorable turn as Houdini with one impressive musical number, while Gina Murray shone in the dual role as Fortune Teller/Auntie.
Trevor Dion Nicholas lived up to his astonishing reputation with a jawdropping turn as Jake. With a vocal range that seemingly knows no limits, he stole the show completely with an amazing ‘The Devil You Know’ in act one, matching it with a gorgeous ‘You Should Be Loved’ later on in the show. The six main cast members were supported by a hard-working and talented chorus, filling in smaller moments and shiniing both individually and collectively throughout.
Not all musical theatre concerts are created equal and Side Show is the blueprint of how they can be done to perfection. With the songs never sounding better, truly coming to life on the stage, the dream cast assembled led to one of the most special experiences I have had at any musical theatre concert – a sentiment that seems to be shared by all of that lucky audience in attendance. This truly was the gold standard of concerts with meticulous care taken to let the music speak for itself with no bells and whistles. The end result was the best concert I have been to in a long time and the best so far for producers Lambert Jackson, who have continually impressed and upped the ante with their ambitious titles.
If ever people question why musical theatre concerts are a thing, Side Show is the perfect example of how they can connect at their finest. The fact we would not have otherwise seen a performance like this had it not been a concert form is enough to defend their continued rise to prominence. Truly as good as a show like this can get, my only complaint is that it left me hoping a show as good as this would never leave us. While these concerts are supposed to be one night only events, perhaps this is one freakish example deserving of an encore performance.
Side Show played at the London Palladium on 3rd March. Lambert Jackson’s next concert production will be Bare on 7th April. Tickets from www.lwtheatres.com
Photos by Danny Kaan