The audience at the Theatre Royal Brighton is predominantly “ladies of a certain age” who grew up with Take That back in the 90’s. They have watched the band go from five, to four to three, and yet still manage to create that amazing sound – and Greatest Days is most definitely a celebration of the sound of Take That.
Sadly, that is pretty much all it is. Originally produced, back in 2017, as a musical called The Band it was the result of an extensive TV search to find the five boys who would go on to simply be referred to, in the show, as “The Boys”, and credited in the theatre programme as “Boyband”. Giving their characters names might help to engage the audience.
It is that lack of familiarity which prevents the band from ever making the kind of connection with the audience that a “jukebox musical” like this really needs. The storyline doesn’t even concern the boys, but five teenage girls from the northwest who are devoted to them.
The first act is set in the 90’s as Debbie, the most optimistic of the gang wins tickets to see the boys live in concert at Manchester. In the excitement that follows they share their plans and dreams for the future, promising that they will always be friends.
The characters are a mix of teenage stereotypes, the average girl Rachel, the cocky confident girl Heather, the athlete Claire and the studious worrier Zoe who is trying to balance doing the right thing with her desire to see her musical crushes in person. As the concert ends the girls don’t get to see their heroes, and tragedy strikes as they split up to head home.
The second act catches up with them 25 years later when, yet again, a competition win sees four of them reunite in Athens, where they try to relive their youth and finally get to meet “the boys”. As the day unfolds, they discover that each of their lives did not live up to their expectations.
Jennifer Ellison plays Rachel, with Olivia Hallett as ‘young Rachel’ and both excel in their roles. Seamlessly moving from the teen to the adult it is easily forgotten that is in fact two different actresses we see, and not just one who has aged before our eyes.
In fact, this can be said of all of the actresses playing the younger and older versions of the characters, each of whom plays an equal role in the show. Rachel Marwood and Kitty Harris as Heather, Holly Ashton and Hannah Brown as Zoe and Jamie-Rose Monk and Mari McGinlay as Claire.
Full marks also go to Mary Moore as Debbie who exudes a star quality, and brings a lovely energy to the stage, in her role as the teenage Debbie.
Although not the main focus, of the narrative,” The Band” is certainly present throughout the show. From the pop concert stage appearances to appearing as Greek statues, they act as the “musical narrators” of the show.
Taking you back to the early days of Take That, Archie Durrant, Alexanda O’Reilly, Kalifa Burton, Regan Gascoigne and Benjamin Cameron (standing in for the indisposed Jamie Corner) sing and strut their stuff to timeless songs such as Pray, Relight My Fire and Could It Be Magic through to newer hits, with the likes of The Flood, Patience and Garden blasting out.
The stage design is very simple, based around two sets of grey stairs that are transformed from lockers and bedrooms to fountains and even sandstone rocks but, the basic design, if anything, makes the songs even more of a focus.
This production is most certainly a nostalgic journey back to the 90’s but, be warned, there is a tragic side to the show and tissues may be needed. For many in the audience it is hard not to get up and sing and dance throughout, but fans will be relieved to hear that the finale offers a chance to boogie with a medley of some of Take That’s favourite hits.
*** Three Stars