UP AGAINST THE WALL. To 28 February.

Bolton.

UP AGAINST THE WALL
by Felix Cross and Paulette Randall.

Octagon Theatre To 28 February 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 14, 21, 25 Feb 2pm.
Audio-described 25 Feb 7.30pm.
BSL Signed 26 Feb.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.

TICKETS: 01204 520661.
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 4 February.

You gotta like the music.
“And they call it work,” says writer and Nitro (formerly Black Theatre Cooperative) director Felix Cross of revising this musical a decade on from its premiere. I’d rather call it a concert, the seventies replayed as the decade of Funk, which provides the tracks for a near non-stop trip through the world of Shaft, Superfly and Car Wash.

With Aretha Franklin and James Brown just two of those whose music sounds around the Octagon, who wouldn’t be happy for a couple of hours? Nitro’s singers put the numbers over with style, while the five instrumentalists spread across the theatre’ rear-stage ledge, provide energetic support

So far, real fine. But what’s it all about? The Emperors of Funk may seem an all-American Black band but offstage they’re a downbeat British mob. Things have hardly started before vocalist Claudette walks out. And wouldn’t you know, her feisty replacement, the in-yer-face, on-my-terms Gloria is a dead ringer for the departed diva.

This allows some nifty doubling, and Ann-marie Roberts to have a fight with herself, twisting between hair-puller and hair-pulled as Claudette shows that, as feisty women go, she's the one who can out-feist all comers. It’s a joke that other shows have done at least as well before, though here the idea is neatly extended as Roberts’ Gloria suffers while the others try to restrain an invisible Claudette.

There’s little else as inventive in the staging, and the showbiz plot-line’s thin and hackneyed. Male pride gets the boot, as the blokes who set up the Emperors are told they’re the ones the bigtime promoters don’t want to take on to fame and fortune.

There’s a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-type running joke about singers Jenai and Leshai being confused by everyone – singularly unapt as they look so different while lookalikes Claudette and Gloria are always distinguishable. Though maybe there’s a point about the blandness of backing singers in there.

Nor is there much to suggest Nitro cast for ability to handle dialogue with subtlety or authority. Still, when these people sing it’s a different story. Yes, you gotta like the music.

Jenai: Shelley Williams.
Leshai: Danielle Henry.
Claudette/Gloria: Ann-marie Roberts.
Courtenay: A J Lewis.
Henry: Donovan Blackwood.
Band: Joseph Roberts, Cheryl Alleyne, Darren Benjamin, Jonathan Idiagbonya, Barry Williams.

Director: Paulette Randall.
Designer: Libby Watson.
Lighting: Matthew Eagland.
Sound: Andy Smith.
Musical Director: Joseph Roberts.
Choreographer: Paul J Medford.
Vocal coach: Yvonne Shelton.
Fight director: Philip d’Orleans.
Assistant director: Rachel Brogan.

2009-02-18 15:22:43