Review: I Should Be So Lucky: The Musical; Opera House, Manchester

This is a delayed one, but the day after seeing the amazing Sunset Boulevard, I stopped by for a show in Manchester before going home and sleeping for another full week at work. 

In fact, it couldn't be more different to Sunset; the world premiere of Stock Aitken Waterman's I Should Be So Lucky: The Musical. 

You may not immediately recognise the names Stock, Aitken and Waterman, but you will recognise the artists they have produced and written songs for: Kyle, Jason Donovan, Rick Astley, Bananarama...? Some of the biggest hits of the last 40 years have come from this team

Now, Nativity creator Debbie Isitt has taken these hits, and created a brand new, very camp British musical

The show has an incredible creative team: not only having Isitt at the writing helm, but also having Jason Gilkison choreographing. If that name sounds familiar, you may have seen his work on the telly on a Saturday night, as he is the principal choreographer for Strictly Come Dancing, creating most of the pro-dance routines! 

The show kicks off with what would be a drama-filled day at work for me: a Bride being jilted at the alter. However, while the wedding may be off, the honeymoon is still on! Instead of taking her new "hubby", Ella channels her inner Kyle, and brings her entire Bridal party! From there, they meet new characters, and shenanigans ensue. 

Now, it's definitely not perfect, and that comes from the book. (I'm getting this out of the way). To have made it on par with an original-story jukebox such as Mamma Mia or & Juliet, there needed to be a couple of bits tightened up for me. To be fair, the first act is actually pretty good, but you do notice it in the second act as things get to become clearer - but also rushed to get to the next Kylie song. 

If Issit gives the story a bit more room to breath, it could be something really special. 

Having said that though, there's a classic musical vibe about it that I know musical theatre fans will enjoy

First off, it is very camp (that's a given with this material); second, is that despite what I said about the book, it feels like a modern and British version of the golden age classics: think White Christmas, 42nd Street, On The Town, or Anything Goes. The song choices are fun and will get your toe-tapping. And, as you would expect from anyone who knows Debbie Isset - I Should Be So Lucky is funny. 

Especially from this very talented cast, full of theatre favourites; Scott Paige (Cinderella: A Socially Distanced Ball) is always going to bring in the laughs, but Jemma Churchill as Ella's Nan, Ivy is definitely another highlight for me. 

I Should Be So Lucky has so much potential

It's fabulous to a grey November day, pretending you're in a beach in Turkey, blasting some Kyle tunes and enjoying a cocktail or three with your mates. It's camp, it's fun, it's a bit silly; if the loose ends are tightened up whilst the tour is going on, who knows how lucky it could be.