Review – 80’s Mania – Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

The Reunion Group, producers of the 80’s Mania national tour, specialise in shows featuring the huge back catalogue of amazing 1980’s hits that are still just as popular today, and so it’s no surprise that 80’s Mania is right at the top of it’s game.

Even before the show begins we hear an “80’s radio station” filling the auditorium with the hits of the time, liberally interrupted by adverts for 80’smaniashow.com, the production’s website. As the audience fill the seats the volume increases so that, by the time the show begins, we are all in the mood to be entertained – and entertained we are!

As the air raid sirens blare out, people of a certain age (most of the audience) cheer as they recognise the opening bars of Two Tribes, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood which is followed by a seriously raunchy version of Relax (Is there any other way to perform Relax?)

Kim Wilde is next to appear, and those people who were already on their feet are joined by many more who just can’t resist the infectious beat of Kids in America, or Nena’s 99 Red Balloons, or Spandau Ballet’s Gold – or any number of the million-selling songs that follow.

The thing with 80’s mania is that they are very aware that, in the 80’s, the look was just as important as the voice. So what we have is a parade of some of the most iconic costumes of that decade, with some cleverly edited portions of the original pop videos and a thunderingly good, four piece, band all fronted by eight dancers and vocalists who are obviously loving every second of this hommage.

The audience too cannot get enough and every new song is greeted by a cheer as if we are in a live episode of “Name the Tune”, with everyone struggling to be the first to recognise the song. Although recognition is no problem when all I have to write is Human League, Cyndi Lauper, Toni Basil and Dead or Alive and you are already thinking of Don’t You Want Me, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Mickey and You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record) with the latter including an incredibly clever recreation of the “6 armed” Pete Burns seen in the original music video.

The show is incredibly well rehearsed, slick, colourful and, with Brad Coleman leading vocally in the cast, really good at recreating a time when life seemed so much simpler, leg warmers were an acceptable form of attire, neon clothing was almost compulsory and hair was just so big!

With so many artists featured, including one hit wonders like Aneka, Ray Parker Jr and The Buggles and yet no mention of Queen, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, The Police, David Bowie, Blondie, Bonnie Tyler, Whitney or Kylie – I can’t help thinking that there is room for an all new 2019 show!

****                  Four Stars

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