The Stage

I Can’t Stop Loving You

Published Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 09:30 by James Green

The legend may be dead but the music lives on. This is a powerhouse musical collaboration of the life of singing pianist Ray Charles, lauded as the father of soul and the pop master who mixed it with blues, rock’n’roll, gospel, and unique arrangements of standards.

It is a relentless parade of his songs played and sung at full volume, so the first requirement is a swinging band. And here we have ten excellent musicians controlled by pianist and musical director Barry Robinson. They are the backbone.

Nobody is cast as Charles, who was blinded by glaucoma at the age of eight, but a smiling roly-poly Ken Prymus, in between his own song spots, offers a modicum of biography.

But it is the songs we are remembering and a cast of 16, including eight dancers, who are a whirlwind of shapely flashing legs, gyrating hips, and knockout energy, choreographed superbly by director Gary Lloyd, revel in the task.

Among the offerings are Basin St Blues, Busted, Hit the Road, Shake your Tail Feathers, Let the Good Times Roll, Country hits, and the title number.

The three Raelettes backing group are there and the stand-out of the trio is Nicola Hughes (late of the West End’s Chicago) who is selling sex in song.

David Jennings in the lead has a chain of solos, Ken Prymus is as welcome with his smiling vocals, and Maurey Richards completes the trio. On the female side Hope Augustus, Kele lo Roc and Kym Manelle belt out their contributions.

The show has already succeeded in the West End and in the US, and faces an assured tour.

Search Amazon for I Can't Stop Loving You items Search for tickets at Ticketmaster