A feel-good family show that combines music, laughter and sharing.
This is a comedy musical story of a mildly dysfunctional family viewed through the eyes of self-assured 13-year-old Nicky, writes Linda Emmanuel.
Nicky enters a competition, “’Describe your family and win a dream holiday’”, and sends in a fictionalised story of her family. To her surprise she wins. She considers places such as Disneyland, Rio de Janeiro, Greece and other far-flung places…but having heard the stories of how her mum and dad met, as well as hearing her grandmother’s tales, she decides on a camping trip to the place where her parents had holidayed before she and her brother were born.
This production invites you into a cosy world of familiarity. With a soundtrack of chirping birds, the set design by Chloe Lamford consists of a Wendy House in front of a countryside backdrop that was seamlessly unpacked by the cast in the first half to reveal the interior of the home, with props and furniture used creatively to depict the kitchen, living room, a bedroom as well as transport.
In the second half the set is dismantled, the country scene curtain parts to reveal a campsite in with the musicians within the trees. It was such a pleasure to watch them as they played beautifully, in sync with the action. As usual on a camping holiday, wet weather wear is a necessity against the rain and, with bike torches attached to headbands as the fog descends and the tent flaps about in the wind.
The cast is brilliantly directed by Vicky Featherstone, the comedy timing was impeccable with exits and entrances used to full effect. The connection between the cast was an absolute treat to behold, with eccentric Dad Steve(Michael Jibson) working through his mid-life crisis by learning a new language, taking up free-running and roller-blading whilst attempting to communicate with a perennially angst ridden teenage son, Matt(Luke Lambert) – very much a ‘Kevin’ from ‘Kevin and Perry’ but with a girlfriend, Nicky, a precocious and self-assured 13 year old telling the odd fib or two as one is prone to do when one is 13. Mum, Yvonne(Gemma Whelan), wishing Steve could build shelves that stayed up for a change and not using an old bath to make a hot tub in the garden; as well as praying to practice patience with her mother in Law, May(Gay Soper), who comes to stay with them after she tried to put a lampshade on top of a lit candle at her home.
May gradually becomes more and more confused, seeing things that the others can’t see, and Aunty Sian(Victoria Elliott) – reminiscent of ‘Rose’ from ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ with the same liking for close connections with the opposite sex – showing up in a whirlwind to share her exploits with her latest beau.
The music and lyrics are used as metaphors, underscoring the wishes they have for life to be more fulfilled in one way or another. You could see and feel the enjoyment the actors had working together; it was an exchange of pure joy from the cast to the audience and back again. The stagecraft was smooth as smooth can be. Each member fully embodying their role right up until they were out of sight of the audience.
This show is a comedy musical, beautifully cast, with actors that handled the comedy and score deftly, as well as caring that the audience could hear every word. In the style of Stephen Sondheim, Natalie Pound the Musical Director and Caroline Humphris in charge of Arrangements and Orchestrations do a superb job, adding to the overall quality of the whole production.
This feel-good show will appeal to those looking for laughs, of which there were plenty, plus, an entertaining night out, with a cast that genuinely cares about their audience, who showed their appreciation by giving a well-deserved standing ovation. Also, be ready to take part in a cleverly set up sharing moment.
Southwark Playhouse until 12 July 2025
Booking and full details: Southwark Playhouse
