Awaiting a delayed flight home from a lads’ holiday in Malaga, four boys contemplate the future while desperately trying to recall the recent past. Originally performed at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival, Dougal Irvine’s piece is a coming of age musical that aims to examine the nature of friendship. Easily the most engaging aspect of the show is the music provided by a band of two guitars played by the author and musical director, Spesh Maloney. Unfortunately the story such as it is, is a misogynistic travesty that lacks the courage of its convictions and ends wrapped in cloying sentiment.
Chris Fountain as JB has a lively and personable stage presence and is easily the most interesting performer to watch on stage. Jack Shalloo as Pete and Steven Webb as Ross lack Fountain’s charisma though, in all fairness, they have been written quite two-dimensional roles. Liam Tamne as Jordan proves to be the most accomplished vocalist, making Secret easily the most palatable number in the show. Verity Rushworth drops in occasionally as Sophie - the girl they may have all slept with.
Pip Minnithorpe’s direction enhances the attitude of the piece, as does Cressida Carre’s incipient choreography but ultimately this is a noisy, brash musical with a boy-band score and a dubious message.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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